Ivory Coast win battle of heavyweights with victory over Cameroon in World Cup qualifier
Ivory Coast claim vital World Cup qualifying win over Cameroon
JOHANNESBURG, September 7 (ANA) – Hosts Ivory Coast came out on top in the battle of the African powerhouses when they defeated Cameroon 2-1, in their Group D World Cup qualifier match, at Lassane Ouattara Stadium, in Abidjan, on Monday evening.
Sebastien Haller bagged a brace in the first half, before Cameroon pulled a goal back Nicolas Ngamaleu in the second stanza.
Ivory Coast moved to four points with the win to top the group, one more than second-placed Cameroon.
Malawi takes on Mozambique in the group’s other game on Tuesday.
After a cautious start to the opening half from both sides, it was the hosts who took the lead after 20 minutes.
From a free kick just outside the penalty area, Jean-Michel Seri’s shot was stopped by Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar – but he was penalised for handball as Ivory Coast were awarded a penalty. Haller obliged from the spot, beating Devis Epassy in the Cameroon goal.
Nine minutes later, Ivory Coast doubled their advantage. Jean Kouassi’s pass found Haller inside the area, and the forward beat Epassy again to make it 2-0.
Cameroon came close to halving the deficit after 37 minutes, when Christian Bassogog found Joyskim Dawa Tchakonte at the edge of the area, but his shot was stopped by Sylvain Gbohouo in goal for Ivory Coast.
Three minutes after the break, Kouassi could have added a third for the hosts. Ibrahim Sangare found his way past two defenders, and his backheel pass found Kouassi who sent a curling shot just wide.
Cameroon substitute Stephane Bahoken tried to find the back of the net with an acrobatic kick after 55 minutes, but his effort was easily held by Gbohouo.
On the hour mark, Cameroon finally breached the Ivory Coast defence. A foul from Eric Bailly on substitute Karl Toko Ekambi inside the area gave the visitors a penalty. From the spot Ngamaleu made no mistake to make it 2-1.
In the 75th minute, the crossbar saved the visitors from conceding the third, when Seri’s freekick clattered into the woodwork after beating Epassy.
Ivory Coast would go on to hold on for the vital victory. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman
