World Cup 2022: Cameroon neutralized by Panama for its last friendly match
Cameroonian striker Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting.
AP - Themba Hadebe
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
2 mins
The Indomitable Lions drew with the Panamanian selection (1-1), Friday, November 18 in Abu Dhabi.
Just entering the game in the second half, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting scored the goal for the Cameroonians, who were playing their last preparation meeting before the World Cup in Qatar.
A result that still does not inspire confidence.
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Nine days after drawing Jamaica in a friendly in Yaoundé (1-1), Cameroon was no more successful on Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, against another CONCACAF selection which did not will not play the 2022 World Cup. Panama also snatched the 1-1 against
the men of Rigobert Song
.
The coach, who could not count on many executives including Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting on November 9 against the Reggae Boyz, chose to leave the Bayern Munich striker on the bench at kick-off.
In a 4-1-4-1 system, Song trusted captain Vincent Aboubakar up front.
The Al-Nassr player, who hasn't scored with the Indomitable Lions since his brilliant CAN at home, was unsuccessful in the first 45 minutes.
At the break, Rigobert Song reviewed his plans in attack: exit Karl Toko-Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar, replaced respectively by Georges-Kévin N'Koudou and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Decisive Choupo-Moting, Onana advised by Eto'o
The Bavarian striker only needed a handful of seconds to release his own.
Incisive to recover a ball after the pressure put by
André-Franck Zambo Anguissa
on a defender, the ex-Parisian stumbled for the first time on the Panamanian goalkeeper before shaking the nets on his second attempt (48th).
In the aftermath, N'Koudou got a good chance but could not convert it.
However, Cameroon did not keep their advantage for very long.
On a free kick full axis, Michael Murillo deceived the vigilance of André Onana (55th).
The Inter Milan goalkeeper may have been bothered by the sun on this conceded goal.
Samuel Eto'o, the president of Fecafoot, was he involved in his decision to wear a cap for the rest of the match?
In videos circulating on the Web, we see the former striker in the stands brandishing a cap and signaling to the Cameroonian staff to bring one to Onana.
This last draw is, in any case, not reassuring for the Indomitable Lions.
Beaten by Uzbekistan
and South Korea in September, held in check by Jamaica and now Panama, they have not been full of confidence before the World Cup in Qatar.
The Cameroonians have an appointment with Switzerland on November 24, then Serbia on November 28 and finally Brazil on December 2 in group G.
World Cup 2022: match schedule and results
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