In a busy week of league action around the globe, two Cameroonian forwards lead their respective European leagues in goals scored. This past weekend Albert Meyong scored twice for Belenenses to lead the Portuguese league with 5 goals after only 4 matches. In Spain Samuel Eto’o scored to move into a tie for the top goalscorer in La Liga with 3 after 3 games played. Meanwhile Champions League and UEFA Cup action began in Europe with many Cameroonian players in action.
Portugal
In Portugal, Albert Meyong started at forward for Belenenses in their 3-1 victory over Vitoria Guimaraes. Meyong scored twice, in the 20th minute on a penalty kick and in the 56th minute to take his league leading goalscoring tally to 5 after only 4 matches played. In addition to his goals scored, Meyong’s speed and mobility were a constant danger to Vitoria Guimaraes defense all game long.
Rudolph Douala started at right side forward and had an average match for Sporting Lisbon in their 2-1 loss to Nacional. Douala was subbed out after 62 minutes with his club leading 1-0. Goalkeeper William Andem played for Boavista in their 2-2 draw with newly promoted Naval.
In the 2nd Division, Yohanna Buba played centerback for Estoril in his club’s 1-0 loss to Varzim while Clement Beaud played midfield for Moreirense in their 1-1 draw with Leixoes.
Spain
In Spain’s La Liga, Samuel Eto’o started at forward for Barcelona as they lost their first match of the new league season 2-1 at Atletico Madrid. Eto’o scored Barcelona’s only goal tapping in a cross from Ludovic Giuly in the 6th minute. Later in the match Eto’o had two other good scoring opportunities but failed to convert. His goal, however, moved him into a tie for the league lead in goals scored with 3 after 3 games.
Carlos Kameni also starred in Spain playing goal for Espanyol as they won at home over Spanish giants Real Madrid 1-0. Kameni came up with several big saves, notably from Brazilian star Ronaldo’s shots to preserve the shutout and victory for Espanyol.
Pierre Achille Webo also played a main role in his club’s match this past weekend. Webo came off the bench in the 60th minute of Osasuna’s match with Sevilla and 2 minutes later set up the game’s only goal with a backheeled pass to teammate David Lopez. It was the 2nd match in a row where Webo came off the bench to set up an Osasuna goal. In the 2nd Division, Daniel Ngom Kome started in midfield for Ciudad de Murcia as they suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 1-0 to Almeria.
France
Jean Makoun grabbed the headlines amongst Cameroon’s players in France’s Ligue 1 this week. Makoun started in midfield and scored on a header in the 5th minute of Lille’s 4-0 win over Nice. Makoun played his typical industrious match before being subbed out after 79 minutes. Bill Tchato started at left back for Nice but was given a direct red card in the 59th minute for a two footed challenge on a Lille player. Achille Emana played in midfield for Toulouse in his club’s 2-0 loss to Nantes. Teenager Sebastien Bassong played centerback for Metz in his club’s 1-1 draw with Nancy. Benoit Assou Ekotto played left back for Lens in their 1-1 tie with Strasbourg.
Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe played right back for Rennes in their 2-0 win over Monaco which marked the last match in charge for Monaco’s coach Didier Deschamps who resigned after his club’s loss. Modeste Mbami in midfield and Jean Hugues Ateba at left back both started for PSG who played a poor match in losing 3-0 to St. Etienne.
In Ligue 2, Eugene Ekobo continued playing in his new position of centerback for Creteil as his club defeated Guingamp 2-1. Grenoble’s scoreless draw with Istres saw Gilbert Bayiha play in goal for Grenoble while Patrick Leugueun was at centerback for Istres. Marcus Mokake played attacking midfield for Sedan in his club’s 1-1 draw with Caen. Bertin Tokene played centerback for Brest as they lost 1-0 to Amiens.
England
In England’s Premier League, Lauren played right back for Arsenal as they defeated Everton 2-0. Coming on as a 86th minute substitute in midfield for Arsenal was teenager Alexandre Song making his first English league appearance.
In the Championship, Mathias Doumbe played as a makeshift right back for Plymouth in his club’s 1-0 win over Burnley. Earlier in the week Doumbe played in his customary role at centerback in Plymouth’s 1-1 draw with Crewe. Forward Vincent Pericard was loaned for 3 months by Premier League club Portsmouth to Championship leaders Sheffield United but did not play for his new club this week.
Germany
In Germany’s Bundesliga Timothee Atouba played left back for Hamburg in their 1-1 tie with Eintracht Frankfurt. Lucien Mettomo started at centerback for Kaiserslautern as they played a scoreless draw with Arminia Bielefeld. In Bundesliga 2, Marc Gouiffe a Goufan played defensive midfield for Paderborn in their 2-0 loss to Hansa Rostock.
Belgium
Matthieu Assou Ekotto returned to Standard Liege’s starting lineup playing defensive midfield as the new Belgian league leaders beat Cercle Bruges 3-0. Patrice Noukeu also played in midfield but for Mouscron in his club’s 2-1 loss to La Gantoise. Justice Wamfor played the first 61 minutes at defensive midfield for Racing Genk in their 3-1 win over Zulte Waregem. After playing midweek in the UEFA Cup, Eric Matoukou was given a rest but came on as a substitute in defense for Genk in the 42nd minute. In the 82nd minute Matoukou was given a straight red card.
Turkey
Raymond Kalla’s Sivasspor continued their fine start to the new league season in Turkey. Kalla started at centerback as his newly promoted club moved up to 4th position in the league following their 2-1 win over Trabzonspor. Souleymanou Hamidou was in goal for Denizlispor as they beat Malatyaspor 1-0. Jean Effa Owona played the first 69 minutes at forward for Malatyaspor.
Herve Zengue played left back for Ankaragucu as they drew 1-1 with Genclerbirligi. Rigobert Song at centerback and Alioum Saidou at midfield started for Galatasaray as they maintained their league lead with a 4-1 win over Manisaspor. Boukar Alioum was in goal for Samsunspor as they tied 3-3 with Ankaraspor.
Austria
Ahmadou Rabihou played 82 minutes at forward for Sturm Graz in their 2-1 loss to SK Ried. Patrice Mbock played in defense for SV Pasching in their scoreless draw with GAK Liebherr.
Greece
Guy Feutchine played right side midfield for PAOK Salonika in their 0-0 tie in the Salonika derby with Iraklis. Playing midfield for Iraklis in the match was countryman Joel Epalle.
Israel
In Israel forward Joel Tchami, formerly with Laval in France, signed with Hapoel Kfar Saba. This week Tchami made his debut and played 63 minutes as his club lost 2-1 to Bnei Yehuda. Tchami received mixed reviews on his debut.
Ernest Etchi and Jean Dika Dika had poor games at centerback for Ashdod in their club’s 1-0 win over Bnei Sakhnin. Emile Mbamba also played his first league match for his new club Maccabi Petah Tikva coming on as a sub at forward in the 75th minute of his club’s 3-2 loss to Maccabi Haifa.
Ireland
Joseph Ndo played midfield for Shelbourne in his team’s 5-0 win over Waterford United.
Eastern Europe
In Russia Jerry Christian Tchuisse played right back for FK Moscow in their 2-1 win over Terek Grozny. In Latvia Aaron Nguimbat played centerback for Skonto Riga in their 3-0 win over FK Venta. Jean Paul Ndjoumeck also played centerback for his club FK Ventspils in their 1-1 tie with FK Riga. In Croatia Mathias Chago played a solid match in midfield as Dinamo Zagreb beat crosstown rivals NK Zagreb 4-0. In Serbia & Montenegro forward Pierre Boya came on as a sub in the 72nd minute of Partizan Belgrade’s 3-0 win over Vojvodina. In Poland midfielder Ferdinand Chifon played for GKS Belchatow in their 2-1 loss to Cracovia Krakow. In Bulgaria forward Marcel Elame played forward for Beroe in their high scoring 4-4 tie with Levski Sofia.
Scandinavia
In Finland midfielder Marc Ndikumade was the man of the match as his club TP 47 drew 1-1 with Inter Turku. Voted the 3rd best player in the match was Inter Turku’s forward Serge N’Gal. Midweek N’Gal scored a goal in the 25th minute of Inter Turku’s 2-1 loss to HJK Helsinki. In Norway Patrick Suffo played forward for Odd Grenland as they continued their recent run of good form by beating Viking Stavanger 1-0. Suffo created several good scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates but was not able to score. Midfielder Somen a Tchoyi also started for Odd Grenland before being subbed out after 62 minutes. Gustave Bahoken played left back for Aalesund in their 1-1 draw with fellow Norwegian league strugglers Bodo Glimt. Joseph Elanga‘s Malmo did not play a league match this week in Sweden.
North Africa
In Algeria, MC Oran played two matches this past week. They lost 3-1 to MC Alger with Augustin Binya at midfield and Joseph Fotso playing forward. Later in the week Binya and Fotso again played as their club lost 1-0 to WA Tlemclen.
In Tunisia Franck Olivier Ongfiang played attacking midfield in his club Esperance Tunis’ 2 matches. Ongfiang played 82 minutes in Esperance’s 1-0 win over JS Kairouan. Later in the week Ongfiang started in Esperance’s 2-1 win over AS Marsa. Ongfiang was red carded, however, after 26 minutes with his club leading 2-0.
South America
In Uruguay Duplex Kamga began the first of his 3 match suspension following last week’s red card. Abdul Njankou is still injured and did not play for Plaza Colonia but two Cameroonians did start in defense for Plaza in their scoreless tie with Liverpool. Alain Yombi played a strong match in central defense proving unpassable for the opposing team’s attackers. Newcomer Franck Daloko also played in defense for Plaza but was red carded after 66 minutes for picking up two yellows in the match.
Asia
In China, defender Clement Lebe’s Liaoning beat Shenzhen Jianlibao 5-1. Didier Njewel and Albert Baning’s Shanghai Zobon lost 2-1 to Beijing Hyundai. In Division 2, Bertin Bayard Tomou scored twice, in the 34th and 76th minutes of Zhejiang Lucheng’s 3-1 win over Dalian Changbo. In Singapore speedy forward Ludovic Kengne was the man of the match as his club Balestier Khalsa defeated Geylang United 4-3. Kengne scored twice in the 30th and 67th minutes.
European Club Competitions
Champions League
The Champions League group stages began last week and 4 Cameroonian players were in action. Pierre Wome started at left back as Inter Milan beat Slovakia’s Artmedia Bratislava 1-0. Lauren played right back for Arsenal in their dramatic 2-1 win over unheralded Thun of Switzerland. Armand Deumi missed the match for Thun due to injury but he is expected to recover soon.
Jean Makoun played in midfield as Lille gave up a late goal and lost on the road 1-0 to Portugal’s Benfica. Finally Samuel Eto’o started at forward and set up one of his club’s goals as they beat Germany’s Werder Bremen 2-0 on the road.
UEFA Cup
There were many Cameroonian players competing in first leg matches this week in the opening round of the UEFA Cup. Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe started and played a solid match at right back as his French club Rennes beat Spain’s Osasuna 3-1. Coming on as a substitute at forward for Osasuna at the start of the 2nd half was Pierre Achille Webo who nodded on a long goal kick to a teammate for Osasuna’s only goal of the match which gives them some hope for the return leg in Spain in 2 weeks.
Forward Emile Mbamba made his debut for Maccabi Petah Tikva in his new Israeli club’s 2-0 loss to Partizan Belgrade but strugled a bit before being subbed out. Partizan’s Pierre Boya did not play in the match. Joseph Elanga played left back as Malmo scored a big 1-0 road win at Turkey’s Besiktas. Andre Bikey came on as a midfield sub at the start of the 2nd half as Russia’s Lokomotiv Moscow beat Brann Bergen of Norway 2-1. Eric Matoukou played centerback for Racing Genk who drew 2-2 at Bulgaria’s Litex Lovech. Justice Wamfor entered as a midfield sub in the 82nd minute for Genk.
Benoit Assou Ekotto played left back for Lens of France who drew 1-1 at Poland’s Groclin Gdzinsk. Pius Ndiefi played 72 minutes at forward for Belgium’s Germinal Beerschot in their scoreless draw with Marseille. Centerback Rigobert Song and midfielder Alioum Saidou played for Galatasaray as they lost 1-0 on a frozen and muddy field at Norway’s Tromso. Timothee Atouba played left back for Hamburg in their 1-1 draw with FC Copenhagen. Finally Guy Feutchine entered as a midfield sub in the 53rd minute of PAOK Salonika’s 1-1 tie with Ukraine’s Metalurg Donetsk.
Asian Club Competitions
There also were continental championship club matches in Asia as the Asian Champions League and AFC Cup (Asia’s version of the UEFA Cup) reached the quarterfinal stages. In the Asian Champions League Joseph Desire Job played forward for his new Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad as they drew 1-1 with Shandong of China. Forward Felix Nzeina, who was the joint top scorer in the group stages with 5 goals for his Korean club Busan I-Park, was not registered by his club in the quarterfinals as they are limited by confederation rules to only 3 foreign players and the club decided to use 3 newly acquired Brazilian attackers in the Champions League quarterfinals. Nzeina presumably remains eligible for Korean league matches but his time with Busan I-Park may be coming to an end. In the AFC Cup forward Julius Pongla Akosah played for Hong Kong’s Sun Hei as they lost 1-0 at Lebanon’s Al Ahed.
