Samuel Eto’o scored an impressive hat trick (3 goals) in Champions League play as Barcelona advanced to the knockout stages of the competition with 2 matches to spare. In league play Patrice Noukeu in Belgium, Joel Epalle in Greece, Pierre Achille Webo in Spain, Herve Tum in France, Jean Emanuel Effa Owona in Turkey, Armand Deumi in Switzerland, Franck Olivier Ongfiang in Tunisia, Franck Daloko in Uruguay and Clement Lebe in China got on the scoresheets for their clubs.
European Competitions
–Champions League
Samuel Eto’o grabbed the headlines this week in European Champions League play as his club Barcelona advanced to the next round of the Champions League with two matches still to play in the group stage. Eto’o started at forward for Barcelona as they defeated Panathinaikos of Greece 5-0. Eto’o scored his first goal in the 14th minute of the game as he was left unmarked and headed in a left wing cross into the upper right corner of the goal. In the 40th minute the Cameroonian marksman notched his second goal after teenage sensation Lionel
Lauren started at right back for Arsenal as his club also qualified for the next round of the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Sparta Prague of the Czech Republic. Jean Makoun played in central midfield as Lille scored a 1-0 upset of Manchester United for their first win in Champions League group play. Armand Deumi played centerback as tiny upstart Thun of Switzerland gave up two injury time goals and lost 4-2 to Ajax Amsterdam. Pierre Wome played left side midfield but was subbed out after 54 minutes as his club Inter Milan came from behind after Wome had left the match to win 2-1 against Porto.
–UEFA Cup
Timothee Atouba started at left back as Hamburg defeated Norway’s Viking Stavanger in UEFA Cup group play. Stephane M’Bia played right back for Rennes as they lost 2-0 to Rapid Bucharest of Romania. Stephane Andre Bikey played centerback for Lokomotiv Moscow as they played a scoreless draw with Palermo of Italy and Emile Mbamba was at forward as Israel’s Maccabi Petach Tikva lost 2-0 to Brondby of Denmark.
League Play
–Belgium
In Belgium, Patrice Noukeu celebrated his first callup to the Indomitable Lions with a big game for his club Mouscron. Noukeu staretd at midfield as Mouscron defeated league leaders Standard Liege 2-1. Noukeu scored Mouscron’s first goal in the 7th minute knocking in a rebound of a teammate’s shot and he set up the game winning goal with a superb pass in the 55th. Mathieu Assou Ekotto, who also was named by Artur Jorge to Cameroon’s training camp later this month, played in midfield for Standard. Justice Wamfor started in midfield for Racing Genk, before being subbed out after 66 minutes, as his club lost 1-0 to FC Brussels.
–Greece
Joel Epalle once again was heavily involved in Iraklis’ match last week in Greece. Epalle started at right side midfield and scored a goal in the 22nd minute as his club defeated Leviadakos 2-0. In the 28th minute Epalle missed a penalty kick. Guy Feutchine also played at right side midfield for his club PAOK Salonika in their 1-0 loss to Panathinaikos.
–Spain
There were two rounds of league play last week in Spain. Over the weekend, Pierre Achille Webo came off the bench in the 62nd minute to help Osasuna beat Espanyol and retain the league lead in Spain’s La Liga. Unfortunately Webo’s heroics came at the expense of his Cameroonian national team teammate Carlos Kameni who had a disastrous time in goal in that match. In the 28th minute Kameni was in the correct position awaiting an Osasuna cross when one of Webo’s teammates mishit his cross and the back pedaling Kameni, rather than attempting to tip the cross over the bar, tried to catch the ball but his momentum carried both he and the ball over the line for Osasuna’s opening goal. In the 70th minute, Kameni tried to kick with his left foot a bouncing backpass but missed the ball completely where Webo retrieved it on the end line and squared it for a teammate to score the 2nd goal of the match.
Samuel Eto’o played 72 minutes at forward for Barcelona as they beat Real Sociedad 5-0 to move into 2nd place in the league behind Osasuna. In the 2nd Division, Daniel Ngom Kome came on as a 52 minute sub as Ciudad de Murcia beat Tenerife 3-0.
The previous Wednesday there also was league action in Spain and Pierre Achille Webo once again played a decisive role in an Osasuna victory. At the start of the 2nd half Webo came on as a sub at forward and in the 92nd minute of the game scored off a rebound to give Osasuna a 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao. Carlos Kameni was in goal for Espanyol as they drew 1-1 with Alaves and Samuel Eto’o played 70 minutes for Barcelona in their 2-0 win over Malaga.
–France
In France’s Ligue 1, Rennes beat Metz 2-1 as teenager Stephane M’Bia continued his good play at right back for the winners in place of the injured Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe. Fellow teeanger Sebastien Bassong had a less effective game in the middle of Metz’ defense but Herve Tum, still trying to regain form after a long injury layoff, came off the bench as a reserve at forward for Metz in the 72nd minute and in the 91st scored Metz’ late consolation goal by right footing a low cross into the net.
Jean Makoun kept up with his industrious midfield play for Lille in their 1-1 draw at Marseille. Benoit Assou Ekotto played left back but had a pretty quiet match by his standards as Lens defeated Toulouse 1-0. Doing a lot of dirty work in Toulouse’s midfield in that match was Achille Emana. Henri Bedimo Nsame also came on as a 63rd minute sub in midfield for Toulouse. Landry Nguemo played in midfield for Nancy and Bill Tchato was at left back for Nice as their clubs played a scoreless tie. Modeste Mbami was in midfield as PSG lost 2-0 to Auxerre.
In Ligue 2, Pierre Njanka and Patrick Leugueun were in central defense for Istres as their club lost 2-1 to Amiens. Eugene Ekobo played centerback as Creteil defeated Sete 3-0. Gilbert Bayiha was in goal for Grenoble as they lost 2-0 to Bastia and Valery Mezague played midfield for Montpellier in their 3-0 loss to Lorient.
The previous Wednesday there was play in the French League Cup. Marcus Mokake played 84 minutes at attacking midfielder as Ligue 2 Sedan beat Ligue 1 Metz 1-0. Herve Tum played forward for Metz. Henri Bedimo Nsame started in midfield as Toulouse defeated LeHavre 1-0 after extra time. Jacques Momha started at left back as Laval lost 1-0 to Guingamp. Landry Nguemo played midfield for Nancy as they beat Sochaux 1-0. Benoit Assou Ekotto was Lens’ left back in their 3-2 loss to Auxerre. Modeste Mbami played midfield for PSG as they defeated Troyes 4-1. Valery Mezague played in midfield as his Ligue 2 club Montpellier upset Rennes 1-0. Stephane M’Bia was Rennes’ right back. Jean Makoun entered as a late sub for Lille as they beat St. Etienne 2-0.
–England
In England’s Premier League, Lauren played right back but had a below par game for his usual high standards as Arsenal drew 1-1 with Tottenham in the north London derby. Eric Djemba Djemba came on as a 75th minute seb in midfield for Aston Villa as they lost 3-1 to Manchester City. In the 2nd level of English football, Mathias Doumbe played centerback for Plymouth in their 0-0 tie with Millwall.
–Germany
Over the weekend in the Bundesliga, Timothee Atouba was at left back for Hamburg in their 1-0 win over fellow championship contenders Schalke. In Bundesliga 2, Marcel Mahouve played midfield for 65 minutes for Saarbrucken as his club lost 3-1 to Ahlen. Francis Kioyo played forward for Energie Cottbus in their 4-1 loss to Freiburg and Marc Gouiffe a Goufan entered as a sub in the last 5 minutes of Paderborn’s 1-1 draw with Bochum.
The previous Wednesday there was German Cup play and Timothee Atouba played 66 minutes at left back as Hamburg beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2. Francis Kioyo was at forward as Energie Cottbus lost 2-1 to Arminia Bielefeld and Marcel Mahouve played 60 minutes of Saarbrucken’s 2-1 loss to Unterhaching.
–Italy
In Italy’s Serie A, Pierre Wome came on as a sub in midfield for Inter Milan in the 66th minute of their 2-2 tie with Sampdoria. Alain Bono played right back in Ternana’s scoreless draw with Catania. Midweek Alain Bono played right back as Ternana lost 4-0 to Piacenza while Thomas Job Iyock sat out Cremonese’s game due to his red card suspesnion.
–Turkey
In Turkey, Jean Emmanuel Effa Owona started at forward for Malatyaspor and scored a goal in the 14th minute but his club lost 2-1 to Ankaraspor. Midfielder Alioum Saidou and centerback Rigobert Song started for Galatasaray who dropped out of first place in the league after losing 2-1 to Genclerbirligi. Souleymanou Hamidou was in goal as Denizlispor lost 1-0 to Trabzonspor. Boukar Alioum returned to keep goal for Samsunspor in their 1-1 draw with Erciyyespor. Raymond Kalla was Sivasspor’s centerback in their 1-0 loss to Rizespor. Gustave Bebbe Mbangue played 63 minutes at forward for Konyaspor as they lost 1-0 to Kayserispor and Herve Zengue played in midfield for Ankaragucu as they lost 4-2 to Besiktas.
–Portugal
In Portugal’s SuperLiga, Rudolph Douala played 80 minutes at winger as Sporting Lisbon drew 2-2 with Boavista. Albert Meyong started at forward as Belenenses lost 2-0 to leaders Sporting Braga. In Portugal’s 2nd Division (Liga de Honra) centerback William Paul Modibo, whom we incorrectly identified as William Paul Modipo last week, started as his club Aves defeated Olhanense 1-0. Playing defensive midfield for Olhanense was Nicolas Alnoudji. Clement Beaud played midfield for Moreirense as they beat Chaves 1-0 and Yohanna Buba played centerback for Estoril as they won 5-2 over Feirense.
–Switzerland
In Switzerland, Armand Deumi played centerback and scored Thun’s only goal via a 26th minute penalty kick as they lost 6-1 to FC Zurich. Jean Pierre Tcheutchoua was Aarau’s centerback in their 2-0 loss to Neuchatel Xamax.
–Austria
In Austria, Ahmadou Rabihou entered as a 73rd minute sub at forward as Sturm Graz lost the Graz derby 2-0 to Grazer AK.
–Israel
In Israel, Jean Dika Dika suffered a serious knee injury in training with his club Ashdod. This past weekend countryman Ernest Etchi played a good match in central defense for Ashdod as they lost 2-1 to league leaders Maccabi Haifa. Emile Mbamba played forward for Maccabi Petach Tikva as they lost 2-0 to Nazareth Illit and Joel Tchami came on as a second half sub at forward as Hapoel Kfar Saba lost to Beitar Jersulaem.
–Russia
With the Russian season entering it’s final weeks Lokomotiv Moscow continued their dip in form as they have dropped from first to third in the league. Stephane Andre Bikey started in central defense this past weekend for Lokomotiv as they drew 1-1 with Saturn Ramenskoye. Jerry Christian Tchuisse played right back for FK Moscow in their 2-0 loss to neighbors Torpedo Moscow. Simon Atangana played the first half at forward as Terek Grozny lost 2-1 to Alania Vladikavkaz, a loss which condemned Terek to relegation.
–Elsewhere in Europe
In Ukraine, Patrick Ebanda played 86 minutes in midfield as Arsenal Kyiv lost 2-0 to Vorskla Poltava. In Croatia, Mathias Chago played in midfield as Dinamo Zagreb beat Rijeka 1-0. Pierre Boya started at forward as Partizan Belgrade got back to their winning ways in Serbia & Montenegro defeating Borac 2-0. In Poland, Francois Endene Elokan played left side midfield as Pogon Szczecin lost 1-0 to Odra Wodzislaw. In Latvia, Jean Paul Ndjoumeck played centerback as Ventspils defeated Olimps 1-0. In Norway, Somen A Tchoyi in midfield and Patrick Suffo at forward played for Odd Grenland in their 2-2 draw with Valerenga. Gustave Bahoken played left back for Aalesund as they lost 3-0 to Viking Stavenger. In Ireland, Joseph Ndo played midfield in Shelbourne’s two wins last week, 1-0 over Finn Harps and 5-0 over Bray Wanderers.
–North Africa
In Tunisia, Franck Olivier Ongfiang, the captain of Cameroon’s U-20 team which unsuccessfully attempted to qualify for the 2005 U-20 World Cup, played at left side midfield, instead of his accustomed central role, as his club Esperance drew 1-1 with EGS Gafsa. Ongfiang played a splendid match for Esperance and in the 26th minute, following a string of nearly 20 consecutive passes by Esperance, he scored the club’s only goal of the match.
In Algeria, Jean Paul Yontcha and Stephane Nankop played forward for CABBA as they drew 1-1 with NA Hussein Dey. Augustin Binya in midfield and Joseph Fotso at forward started for MC Oran in their club’s scoreless draw with US Biskra. Goalkeeper Bruno Kameni Njeukam had a few adventurous moments but still kept a clean sheet as his team CR Belouizdad played a 0-0 tie with CS Constantine.
–South America
With Uruguay’s upcoming World Cup playoff match coming up with Australia, two rounds of league matches were played this week. This Wednesday Franck Daloko got on the scoresheet scoring the only goal of the match as Plaza Colonia defeated Tacuarembo 1-0. Daloko was playing at centerback in place of countryman Abdul Njankou. Playing right back for Plaza in the match was Alain Yombi. Duplex Kamga was in midfield for Wanderers as they played a 0-0 draw with River Plate.
Over the weekend, Duplex Kamga was a motor in midfield for Wanderers as lost 2-1 to Danubio. Alain Yombi was the right back for Plaza Colonia in their 2-0 loss to Cerro.
–North America
Alain Nkong’s club Colorado advanced to the semifinals in the United States’ Major League Soccer after defeating FC Dallas on penalties after a 2-2 draw on aggregate. But Nkong was sent off in a strange incident in the 53rd minute of the match. Nkong jumped with his back to a Dallas player and his elbow struck the eye of the opposing player. The referee did not call a foul on the play but when play was stopped to treat flowing blood from the Dallas player, the referee consulted with the 4th official and then red carded Nkong. As a result of the ejection Nkong will miss the single match semifinal which Colorado will play this weekend against Los Angeles Galaxy.
–China
In China, the league season is drawing to a close and defender Clement Lebe got on the scoresheet with the opening goal as his club Liaoning beat bottom of the table Chongqing Qiche 2-1. Albert Baning in midfield and Didier Njewel at forward played as Shanghai Zobon lost the Shanghai derby to Inter Shanghai 3-0.
