The Lone Star of Liberia had their chances of qualifying for the Ghana 2008 Nations cup shattered when they were prey to a highly experienced Indomitable Lions of Cameroun on Sunday at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS) in a group five qualifier.
A goal in each half from holding midfielder Stephane Mbia after eight minutes and three times African footballer of the year Samuel Eto’o Fils nine minutes after the interval was followed by a consolation from the gritty Indonesian based midfielder Stephen Mennoh in the 65th minute as the Cameroonians improve their standings in a relatively easy group that also comprised Equatorial Guinea and Rwanda.
The visitors under the helmsmanship of Jules Federic Nyonga played their usual 4-4-2 formation where they looked organized against their opponents who struggled in the early stages of the duel.
The four times African champs went on the front foot as early as the start with Achille webo of Spanish club Osasuna causing some stir in the Lone Star goal area.
A minute later Eto’o who was playing as a decoy behind Webo released the pacy Portsmouth wide man Rudolph Douala Mbella, but had his effort squandered.
Jean Makoun and Stephen Mbia combined very well in central midfield where they were able to use their natural ball winning ability to combat the duo of Stephen Mennoh and Dulee Johnson.
After few exchanges, goalkeeper cum goalie Sunday Seah saved a thru ball, but his quick throw to James koko Lomell led to the score line being rotated.
The Indonesian based Lomell who was operating at the right side of midfield played the ball in a quick fashion to a host of teammates who were not anticipating and the towering Mbia punished them from 25 yards as goalie Seah was caught helpless.
The host then went on the front foot with the little Zah krangar making a run from the left in an attempt to release teammate Francis Doe but, captain Rigobert Song Bahanag broke the threat as he played over the byline for a corner.
The resultant corner taken by Lomell was met on the volley by the American based Chris Gbandi which went inches over the bar as shot stopper Carlos Idrissa Kameni had no response.
After the first quarter, the host began to settle. The visitors then engaged in the waiting game as they squandered two chances.
Firstly, Dulee Johnson was disposed few yards from the 18yd box, but Sunday was on time to deny Webo from increasing the lead.
Then in the 21st minute Sunday was forced to make another nerve wrecking save this time from Doualla.
It was then a virtually one man defensive situation as the burly Murphy Nagbe operated every where in defense to halt the Cameroonians second goal hunt.
The center back then went out briefly due to injury, and on his return managed the impede the runs of Eto’o and Landry Nguemo at one point.
Playing with a major thigh problem due to a challenge with Webo, the PSMS Medan rearguard Murphy Nagbe was a major reason Cameroun could not get the second goal.
And then in the 26th minute, Dulee Johnson was made top swap with Lomell, and the Lone Star started to cause some stir.
Lomell used his flair to spray the passes to the front two of Francis Doe and Frank Seator, but the likes of Song Bahanag and partner Andre Bikey proved too difficult to get by.
A rein was kept on Doe as Song pursued him in key areas, and each time he made an angle run, Song would zone mark him with either Geremi Njitap or Atouba Bilayi closing him down.
Seator as well could not prove a handful as the Puma brand Cameroonians kept their composure.
The Lone Star was still adventurous as an effort from Seator was wrongly headed by Bikey to Mennoh on the edge of the box.
The player took a terrific shot which went sailing over the cros bar.
Then an intended defense splitting pass from Zah Krangar to Francis Doe was superbly intercepted by kameni.
Eto’o was at the other end serving as supplier allowing his teammates to move in a mazy fashion as they went on the front foot, but Murphy Nagbe and Ousman Larmin stood firm in the defensive third to end the first period in the visitors’ favour by an odd goal.
Dulee Johnson who was not as sparkling as in the corresponding fixture immediately made way for former Hearts of Oak winger Johnny Bleedee with Eto’o and his men racing for the second goal cushion.
The quality of playing at the top flight then showed when the industrious Makoun who did not feature in the previous tie due to hamstring problem played a telling ball in the path of Eto’o who met the ball with a spectacular left footed volley that squeezed Sunday to the back post to register the second goal of the match.
MSV Duisburg front runner Idrissou mahamadou then went on for Doualla as they kept probing for the goal that would kill the match. They however had to deal with the ever reliable Murphy Nagbe who stood firm at the rear.
In the 60th minute Seator was caught in possession by Bikey in the box, but penalty appeal from the home side and their supporters was not given attention by Malian referee Koman Coulibaly.
Five minutes later a flick pass from Francis Doe who had made a run in field was collected by Zah. The youngster then bodys werved his way past Geremi and then unselfishly released playmate Mennoh close to the six yard box. The harder worker then easily tapped the ball in to reduce the tally.
Midfielder Modest Mbami who made his return to the Indomitable Lions after three years went on for the injured Mbia who collided with Mennoh in an aerial tussle.
Also,Swiss based midfielder Guy Feutchine replaced Nguemo to augment the middle in maintaining the lead at a packed the ATS.
The Lone Star then introduced Varmah Kpoto for Chris Gbandi as they created some anxious moment but could not get back on level terms as the visitors went home cruising.
Cameroun are now touching distance to Ghana 2008, while their last Sunday opponents, Lone Star are on the verge of being spectators in the African football jamboree.
Coach Jericho said after the match « we are in the period of transition. We are rebuilding, and i am not deeply disappointed for we lost to the best team on the continent who were by far prepared than us.
We no doubt have a team for the future which only needs time ».
His opposite number Jules Nyonga said he was happy for the win, and heaped praises on the Lone Star « they are a very young and promising team. They only need time to develop. Certainly, they gave us some run of our money ».
The incisive Eto’o also hailed the young Lone Star and said they are a team of the future.
» They are not an easy side to beat, and though we have won we did not do it on a silver platter », he told reporters.
Eto’o then walked with central midfielder James Koko Lomell in the locker room where he presented his entire playing outfit including his puma boot which had his name written on it to the Indonesian based Lomell.
The win takes Cameroun to an advanced first spot with
12 points followed by Equatorial Guinea who lost on Saturday to the group’s Benjamin, Rwanda 2-0, while the Lone Star lies third with just three points.
Their next match is in a forth night time against Equatorial Guinea who beat them in the corresponding tie 2-1.
Wleh Bedell, LS
