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How It Happened: Cameroon 1-1 Nigeria
Welcome to TopNaija.ng’s live coverage of the 2018 World Cup qualifier between Cameroon and Nigeria from Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde.
The referee blows his whistle for the final time and brings an end to what was a really disappointing evening for Cameroon. They were carved open early on and, despite equalising through Aboubakar, struggled to fully recover, with Nigeria constantly causing them problems when pushing forward. Moses was in inspired form, whilst, at the other end of the pitch, Djoum Arnaud disappointed against a Super Eagles back-line that was solid. Thanks for joining our live coverage of the match!
FULL-TIME: It’s all over! Cameroon are out of the 2018 World Cup race!
90+2′ – Ezenwa is down again receiving treatment. I’m not sure anyone was near him when he went down.
90′ – FIVE MINUTES have been added on. Eagles need to retain possession better. They’ve been giving the ball away too much.
87′ – Etebo replaces Onazi, who is on a yellow card. The Eagles are just barely hanging on now.
84′ – Ezenwa makes a superb save to deny a snap-shot from Aboubakar! He then gets up to deny Fai in a nasty collision and will need treatment.
83′ – Aboubakar tumbles dramatically in the box, but there’s no penalty coming.
81′ – Substitution – Cameroon’s last change sees Moumi Ngamaleu replace Olinga.
79′ – Iheanacho replaces Ighalo as the Eagles struggle to keep the ball.
77′ – Onazi is booked for a cynical foul. The noise here is now defeaning. The Super Eagles are wobbling. The Lions smell blood.
75′ – 1-1 Aboubakar scores the penalty. Ezenwa had given the penalty away when he flattered into a Cameroon player after missing the ball. The fans have woken up. Huge noise.
75′ – Penalty Goal Vincent Aboubakar
73′ – Nigeria concedes a penalty kick. Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa runs out of his line to challenge Djoum Arnaud recklessly.
70′ – Another chance for Nigeria to double the lead via a corner kick. Victor Moses floats it deep in the Lions den but a timely clearance sees the ball go out of the danger zone
67′ – WHAT A MISS! Victor Moses makes a mincemeat of three defenders and fires to the top left corner of Fabrice Ondoa but it kisses the woodwork. Cameroon should count themselves lucky that it didn’t sail in
64′ – Cameroon try to push forward on attack as they attempt to find an equaliser, but Nigeria have plenty of bodies back to deal with the danger. A counter attacking move see the Super Eagles gather in the Cameroonians’ half. Moses sends a low cross to Ighalo but the China based man missed by whiskers
61′ – Cameroon make the first two changes of the game. Bassogog replaces Moukandjo, Aboubakar on for Nsame. Olinga is yellow carded for dissent.
61′ – Cameroon make the first two changes of the game. Bassogog replaces Moukandjo, Aboubakar on for Nsame. Olinga is yellow carded for dissent.
59′ – Cameroon threaten down the Nigerian left but Ezenwa makes an easy catch. They come again but shoot high and wide.
55′ – World class defending from William Troost-Ekong. He darts to stop Nsame Jean Pierre – who was just a shot away from equalising. Corner kick for Cameroon, taken but was cleared by the uncompromising Nigerian backline
52′ – Victor Moses embarks on another promising run as he cuts inside from the right flank but falls in an uncharacteristically manner
49′ – Mikel is barged off the ball midway inside the Cameroon half of the pitch and picks up a free-kick for Nigeria in an advantageous position. He steps up and curls a lovely cross into the penalty area that finds no one.
46′ – We’re underway once again, Nigeria restarts!
So far, so good for Nigeria, who have defended diligently to severely restrict Cameroon’s chances on goal. The hosts have looked off the pace and bereft of ideas inside the final third of the pitch, where they’ve really struggled to find pockets of space in and around the penalty area. They’ll certainly have to increase the tempo of their attacking moves if they’re to have any joy after the break.
HALF-TIME: CAMEROON 0-1 NIGERIA
45′ – The fourth official has indicated that there will be one minutes of added time. Corner kick for Cameroon
42′ – Cameroon push forward on another rare foray into the Nigeria half of the pitch as they patiently work their way down the right flank and into a good position. They’re able to win themselves a throw-in, but it’s easily dealt with by the visitors .
41′ – Moukandjo crosses from a corner kick, but Ezenwa once again shows a good pair of hands to claim the aerial ball.
40′ – Cameroon looking to build up a head of steam but they are struggling to find any gaps in Nigeria’s defence.
37′ – Moses looks just fine as he tries to beat his defender in the box and goes down under a challenge, but the referee isn’t interested in awarding a penalty.
35′ – A worry for Nigeria as Moses limps off to receive some treatment – they’ll hope it’s nothing more than a minor knock.
33′ – Balogun gets on the end of a Moses corner kick but can’t direct an effort on goal. A few second later it’s the turn of Ighalo to dazzle his marker, cut inside and blaze a left-footed shot just over the target!
30′ – GOAL! Cameroon 0-1 Nigeria – Moses drives a low cross into the box, Ondoa can only half stop the ball and Simon is on hand to steer home a left-footed shot! The Super Eagles lead in Yaounde!
29′ – Another Moses delivery from a corner kick, but again it isn’t really a threat to the hosts’ defence.
27′ – Moses tries to float a cross to the back post for the run of Ndidi, but it’s overhit and out for a goal kick to Cameroon.
26′ – Ezenwa initially drops a long ball into his penalty area, but recovers quickly. Balogun then powers upfield and earns a free kick in a good attacking position for the Super Eagles.
24′ – A misplaced diagonal pass almost puts Zambo Anguissa in on goal, but Ezenwa is alert to the danger.
21′ – Cameroon with a free kick on the right flank. Moukandjo crosses, Banana gets up to glance the header onwards, but the offside flag is up.
19′ – Moses tripped up in midfield and it’s another free kick for Nigeria. The hosts are really looking to assert themselves in the challenges…
18′ – Cameroon with a set piece of their own now, but Moukandjo’s delivery from the dead ball is out for a goal kick to Nigeria.
15′ – A quarter hour played, still goalless in Yaounde. Moses crosses from another corner kick, but his delivery is poor this time and Cameroon clear the danger.
12′ – Free kick to Nigeria out on the left flank. Moses whips in a good cross, but Teikeu gets up to make a fine defensive header.
10′ – Ezenwa with good hands again as he smothers a low ball into the penalty area from Zambo Anguissa.
9′ – Nsame meets a low cross from the right but he can’t get a clean shot away to test Ezenwa.
8′ – Moses almost picks out Balogun at the far post from the corner, but the tall defender is outmuscled in the air.
7′ – Ndidi is tripped up and Nigeria have a free kick in a good attacking position. Moses whips in a dangerous ball and Teikeu heads out for a corner kick.
5′ – Good pace from Balogun to beat Nsame to a long ball played down the left flank. The Indomitable Lions are looking to go from back to front with real speed whenever they get the chance.
3′ Cameroon get their fans roaring with a neat passing that ends in an easy catch for Ezenwa. They try to catch Nigeria with a long ball but Ezenwa is alert.
1′ – Kick-off – We are underway in Yaounde! Cameroon wear their famous green, red and yellow, while Nigeria don a change strip of all-white.
