Emphatic victory helps Cameroon put turmoil behind them
Captain Vincent Aboubakar scored twice as Cameroon put weeks of turmoil around their national team behind them to beat the Cape Verde Islands 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Yaounde on Saturday.
They moved level with Libya at the top of Group D on seven points from three matches.
In Saturday’s other qualifier in Africa, Gambia hammered the Seychelles 5-1 in Group F.
Centre back Michael Ngadeu marked his return to the team after a two-year absence to put Cameroon into a 13th-minute lead, rising to power home Nicolas Ngamaleu’s corner.
The left winger also provided the assist for a second goal 12 minutes later with a cross that Aboubakar turned into the net from close range as the defence backed off.
Jamiro Monteiro pulled back a goal in the 37th minute, running in behind the home defence and getting on to the ball before goalkeeper Andre Onana.
But a foul on Ngamaleu three minutes later by Deroy
Duarte gave Cameroon a penalty that Aboubakar converted to restore their two-goal lead.
The Indomitable Lions went 4-1 up when a 54th-minute cross was headed forward by Ngadeu and finished off by Nouhou Tolo.
Cameroon have been to more World Cups than any other African country but their bid for a ninth appearance in North America in 2026 threatened to be derailed by a spat between the country’s football federation and sports ministry.
The government, which pays the coach’s salary, named Belgian Marc Brys as coach in April to the disappointment of soccer federation president Samuel Eto’o who was not consulted on the matter.
He at first rejected Brys, then bowed to political pressure to accept the appointment but wanted his own choices added to the technical team. It took several weeks of posturing and power plays, including denying the team equipment to train with, before a compromise was reached.