Cameroon reminded everyone why their team is nicknamed the Indomitable Lions.
Virtually eliminated for a long time by the scenario of the match against Gambia, Rigobert Song's men always found the mental resource to secure qualification in the round of 16 (3-2).
While the Yamoussoukro stadium hosted the "final" of Group C between Senegal and Guinea, the Peace stadium in Bouaké hosted two teams up against the wall: Cameroon, keen to forget its pitiful performances in the first two matches, and a Gambia which hopes to finish on a good note with a victory, or even a miraculous qualification.
And almost held her.
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Around the stadium, the Cameroonians were confident, reminding us that the Indomitable Lions are never better than when they are against the wall and paying little attention to Gambia.
Big mistake, if the Cameroonians take possession of the ball and launch long phases of possession, it is the Scorpions who are the most spicy.
Ondoa in his place in the Cameroon cage
Ondoa quickly has the opportunity to shine on a powerful strike from Sowe.
The goalkeeper from Nîmes (third French division) replaces André Onana in the cages, designated guilty of the defeat against Senegal (3-2).
It must be said that the Manchester United goalkeeper has a complicated history with the selection and this time again joined the gathering late.
Far from the 0% parade of his colleague against the Lions of Teranga, Ondroa responds.
Nimes crocodile or Cameroonian lion, he bares his fangs to defend his cage and repels Minteh's strikes, untenable on the wings (25th, 35th, 39th).
Opposite, the Cameroonians can congratulate themselves on holding the ball better than their opponents but never worry Baboucarr Gaye.
A change of face after half-time.
Returning from the locker room, the Cameroonians know that they must do better.
The current state of the match leaves them virtually eliminated.
Especially since on the other field of the group, Guinea and Senegal seem happy to share the point of the draw which freezes the ranking.
Cameroon must truly become Indomitable Lions again.
Karl Toko-Ekambi understood the message and pushed forward (49th).
George-Kevin N'Koudou sends a powerful strike while he is alone in front of the goal, but finds the crossbar (53rd).
A few moments later, the shooter is blocked by the defense in the area but the referee indicates to play.
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It finally pays off!
Served perfectly by N'Koudou, Toko Ekambi, who started behind the defense, placed an unstoppable header (56th, 1-0).
An achievement of the 2018 Marc Vivien-Foé Prize that was first verified by video refereeing but which was finally validated to the great relief of the “Continent”.
Equalization that hurts
With the counter unlocked, Cameroon should now think about improving its goal difference, especially since in Yamoussoukro, Senegal also opened the scoring.
But Gambia decides otherwise: it continues to push, to believe in it and Ondroa ends up cracking.
Abli Jallow equalizes (72nd, 1-1).
everything has to be done again.
In the process, the match gets carried away.
Barrow brushes against Ondoa's left post (73rd).
Karl Toko-Ekambi finds the crossbar (75th).
And the public chose Little Thumb against the continental ogre who ended up taking the upper hand: having just entered the game, Ebrima Colley, served by Cessey, placed an unstoppable strike from a tight angle (85th, 2-1).
Impossible is not Cameroonian, however.
The Indomitable Lions do not lower their heads and find the mental resources to equalize.
A tornado invades the Gambian surface and Gomez beats his own goalkeeper (2-2).
Enough to offer a thrilling finale because with an additional goal, the two teams would secure a place in the round of 16.
Cameroon knocks out Gambia on a corner just before stoppage time: Wooh rises higher than everyone and places an angry header out of the goalkeeper's reach (90th).
The Indomitable Lions just have to be true to their nickname during the nine minutes of overtime...
But it was decided that this match would be completely crazy and Gambia equalized again to condemn both teams thanks to Sanneh.
But the VAR intervenes and refuses the goal for an obvious hand.
A few moments later, the Cameroonians can finally breathe: in pain, in self-sacrifice, in madness too... The qualification is there.
Certainly, criticism will be raised against the fact that the five-time African champion should not finish third in his group.
But the bottle doesn't matter, as long as they have the intoxication of the final phase.
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