Indomitable Lions of Cameroon Crowned African Champions

Sidney Mahlangu

By

Joseph Besong

The game of football has gone a long way to present Africa in a positive image. For two weeks the continent’s finest professionals, amateur and home based players, marked their presence at the African Cup of Nations in Gabon, big names like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon, and DR Congo mixing with underdogs like Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, etc.

For two weeks the players thrilled spectators in Gabon and millions of those who watched the matches on the various channels across the globe. It was thanks to Afro Motion TV that enabled many Africans to watch the matches for free online whereever they were.

Cameroon, who weren’t the favorite when the games started, soon became the talk of the day. They qualified for the knock out stages of the competition with no great problem. The stages came and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon once again showed the world and Africa in particular that they remain a force to reckon with as far as soccer is concerned in the continent.

Cameroon was paired in the quarter finals with Senegal, eventually beating them 5 – 4 on penalties after 90 minutes and extra time produced no goals. Then, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon again trashed the almighty Black Stars of Ghana at the semi final. This was the climax of victories for Cameroon in Gabon. At this stage of the games, only two teams were to take home the trophy, Cameroon or Egypt. Egypt has always been a difficult opponent for Cameroon in either the qualifiers or the African Cup of Nations. Egypt therefore has always been a thorn in Cameroon’s flesh.

It will be read in the history books that Cameroon are the African Champions in 2017.  On Sunday February 4, 2017 Cameroon beat the North African team Egypt in a final that brought together a huge crowd who turned out to watch football made in Africa. Apart from the participating teams Cameroon and Egypt there was also a huge Gabonese population who watched the finals. Present also were both African media houses and international media who covered the event, giving it the honor it deserved.

According to football analysts the world over the standard was set in the African Cup of Nations 2017 finals, spectators enjoying every moment of the game. In the final, the Egyptians scored first, in the first half. This early goal motivated the Cameroon side who answered with some steam and accurate passes. Unfortunately, there was no luck on their side. The second half of the game however brought fireworks on both sides. Egypt tried to maintain their one goal lead but the Cameroonian team came from behind to score two more goals to seal victory.

Cameroonians immediately took to social media to celebrate victory after a very long absence from the limelight. However, the jubilation wasn’t in all parts of the country due to the Anglophone strikes, ghost towns, boycott of schools in the English section of the country, etc. That notwithstanding, the Cameroonians are having the best sporting moment. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon were welcomed in Yaoundé earlier in front of government officials, sport journalists and the population of the capital. The young and energetic team fully deserved the victory going as far to grab the highest trophy in the continent.

It’s high time the Cameroonian leaders learned how to engage young people not only in football but in matters of governance. We join the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to celebrate this victory.

Joseph Besong

I am the editor-in-chief of Kilimandjaro radio. I hail from Africa, precisely from Cameroon in Central Africa.

I did my secondary education at Bishop Rogan College Soppo-Buea located in the South West Region of Cameroon. After graduation, I proceeded to the University of Buea-Cameroon where I read English minor in Journalism and Mass Communication. I later worked in Cameroon as a broadcaster with Two radios namely Radio Evangelum and CBS Radio all located in Buea.

Presently, I work with Kilimandjaro radio, an online radio station based in Canada.