U20 WC Qualifiers: Junior Lions draw goalless against Ethiopia

At the final whistle of the Central Congolese referee, Chancèle Imane Ngakossa, Cameroonians with their hands on both sides of their cheeks collapsed on the lawn.

The Ewodo Ekogo’s team mates expressed disappointment at the end of their first meeting in the playoffs for the U20World Cup which was held in Papua, New Guinea. They have grey minds because they just registered a draw (0-0) which looks like a defeat against their Ethiopian counterparts who resisted well to the sharpened skills of the junior Lions.

The girls of Charles Kamdem nursed feelings of regret because they should have prevailed in the light of the incalculable number of opportunities they had while facing the Ethiopian team with lack of benchmarks but a strong defense.

The supersonic Ghislaine Nkou had given a first signal shortly before the first quarter of an hour of play, even if at the end of a collective action expertly well conducted, she shot the ball on target (12').

But Cameroon had to settle for the only real opportunity at the end of a first half to its advantage but scuttled by a lack of effectiveness on the leading edge. Moreover, the captain, Ewodo, played well with her impressive timing to titillate the athletic Ethiopian defence but still did not succeed in scoring a goal.

Back at the locker room, the speech from Kefene Asrat Abate to her team mates seemed to have motivated them. The Ethiopian girls returned with a sprig of burst of pride which made the lionesses anxious.

The beautiful combination of Hege Tigisi, Busser Medin and Boyzo Senyat produced a free kick very important for Ethiopia at the entrance to the surface of Christelle Beyala. Alas, Geinore Loza, the Ethiopian Captain, also shot the ball off the target (58').

With all at the back, Ethiopia preferred not to take risk and seemed satisfied by the nil results.