U17 World Cup: Cameroon Measures up to Nigeria (02.06.2008)
Fred VUBEM
They played a one-all draw in the qualifiers for the Under 17 feminine World Cup yesterday.
Nigeria has always dominated other African countries in matters of feminine football. This has made it to be considered the yardstick of feminine football on the continent. However, this domination now seems to be over as the Lionesses yesterday proved that they were a force to reckon with in feminine football on the African continent. The lionesses pulled a draw against Nigeria, the best score obtained so far in feminine football with Nigeria.
After having qualified for the World Cup in New Zealand, Cameroon together with Nigeria and Ghana were asked by the world football governing body to play a triangular tournament after which only the best two will qualify for the world event. In the first of such matches played yesterday at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon pulled a one-all draw with Nigeria.
Both
goals came in the second half of the match after a goal from Nigeria in the first half was disallowed for off-side play. That notwithstanding, the Nigerians were the first to open scores through a personal action from striker, Oparanozie Ugochi. The goal woke the Lionesses from their stupor as they took an upper hand from Nigeria who had been dominating the match and proving to be very dangerous in counter attacks. Cameroon’s equaliser came at the last minute of play through Akaba Henriette barely three minutes after she came in as a substitute in the match.
