Like in the two previous editions of the All Africa Games, the Under-23 side of the Indomitable Lions have finished first in the football tournament to earn a gold medal.
The Lions shocked a capacity stadium of 60.000 fans in Abuja by beating their hosts Nigeria 2-0. Marcus Mokake was the hero of the day as he took a goal in each half. He finished top scorer of the tournament with 8 goals in six games.
Reports say Nigeria had early dominance before Cameroon grew in confidence and made the best of their chances. Nigeria were frustrated several
timesby a high performing goalkeeper Patrick Tingyemb.
As in 2000 when the Indomitable Lions defeated Nigeria in the Surulere Stadium to win the African Nations Cup, the crowd reacted by throwing plastic bottles onto the pitch.
The Under-23 side had a clean tournament, winning five games and drawing one against Ghana (1-1) at the group stage, where they defeated Egypt and Algeria on identical 3-1 score respectively.
And like in the final, it was Mokake who scored the two goals in Cameroon’s 2-1 win over Zambia at the semi final.
