Vincent Aboubakar scored twice as Cameroon put weeks of turmoil round their nationwide workforce behind them to beat the Cape Verde Islands 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Yaounde on Saturday.
The win, which additionally noticed André Onana save a stoppage-time penalty from Kevin Pina, moved Cameroon degree with Libya on the prime of Group D on seven factors from three matches.
In Saturday’s different qualifier in Africa, Gambia hammered the Seychelles 5-1 in Group F, a successful begin for his or her new Irish coach Johnny McKinstry.
Centre again Michael Ngadeu marked his return to the workforce after a two-year absence to place Cameroon right into a Thirteenth-minute lead, rising to energy house Nicolas Ngamaleu’s nook.
The left winger additionally offered the help for a second objective 12 minutes later with a cross that Aboubakar changed into the web from shut vary because the defence backed off.
Jamiro Monteiro pulled again a objective within the thirty seventh minute, working in behind the house defence and getting on to the ball earlier than goalkeeper Onana.
However a foul on Ngamaleu three minutes later by Deroy Duarte gave Cameroon a penalty that Aboubakar transformed to revive their two-goal lead.
Cameroon went 4-1 up when a 54th-minute cross was headed ahead by Ngadeu and completed off by Nouhou Tolo.
They’ve been to extra World Cups than every other African nation however their bid for a ninth look in North America in 2026 threatened to be derailed by a spat between the nation’s soccer federation and sports activities ministry.
The federal government, which pays the coach’s wage, named Belgian Marc Brys as coach in April to the frustration of federation president Samuel Eto’o who was not consulted on the matter.
He at first rejected Brys, then bowed to political stress to simply accept the appointment however wished his personal selections added to the technical workforce. It took a number of weeks of posturing and energy performs, together with denying the workforce tools to coach with, earlier than a compromise was reached.
Seychelles, who’re Africa’s smallest nation and have by no means received a World Cup qualifier, have been holding Gambia to a 1-1 stalemate at half-time in Berkane, Morocco, the place Gambia needed to transfer their house match as a result of they don’t have an appropriate stadium of their nation.
4 unanswered objectives within the second half, nonetheless, noticed Gambia report their first win of the marketing campaign. Muhammad Badamossi scored twice and there was additionally a objective for the 19-year-old Yankuba Minteh, who has been linked with a transfer to Liverpool.
