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The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon have qualified for the second round of the ongoing 10th edition of the African Women Nation Cup, AWCON, after beating Banyana Banyana of South Africa 1-0 in the second group A match.

Staged last Tuesday November 22 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, Géneviève Ngo Mbeleck’s strike at the 83rd minutes handed Cameroon a ticket to the second round of the competition.

Before the end of the first period, both teams had been right as they delivered a high-priced match. The abrupt speed and dribbling of Aboudi Onguéné, Ngono Mani’s and the physical pressing of Gaëlle Enganamouit thirst for a goal did not produced anything but instead gave South Africa opportunity to score first. 

Andisiwe tried to test Annette Ngo Ndom at the 30th minutes but the ball went over the cross bar. It was not until the 43rd, when the first and only shot of Cameroon went to the pole thanks to Nchout Ajara who saw her strike easily captured by the goalkeeper of South Africa.

As hard as it was, the first 45 minutes of the match saw the two teams separated on a goalless draw.Returning from the locker room, the two teams were once again engaged in a long sequence of attacks and counter-attacks, without any one succeeding in penetrating the secrets of the defense of the other.

However, while the South Africans contented themselves with looking for meager solutions in the sides with a few almost passing behind the cage of Annette Ngo Ndom, Cameroon was trying everything including Gaëlle Enganamouit who compelled the guard when her header passed over the cross bar at the 80th minutes.

Later, Géneviève Ngo Mbeleck, the former player of FK Minsk was in the right place at the right time to take over from Nchout Ajara.

Mbeleck’s goal propels her team into the semifinals of the competition.Relieved by the victory, the coach of Cameroon, Enow Ngachu, told reporters during the post-match press conference that it was the mindset of the Lionesses that made the difference as they gave everything to solve the South African equation.

“Matches against South Africa are often very difficult. Today, I think it was the mindset of the lionesses that made the difference. The girls were more serious than their opponent. Thank God, we managed the game well to score when needed. This victory synonymous with qualification confirms us in our ambition in this competition to win the final trophy.i think this match was a replay of what happened in 2014 in Namibia. Congratulations also to our opponent who were unlucky” Enow Ngachu said.

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Rita Akana

23.Nov.2016

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The opener played on Day-1 of the two week biggest women African football jamboree, was watched by the number football fan in Cameroon, President Paul Biya and his wife, Madame Chantal Biya, government officials and a full 40000-seater stadium.

The Indomitable Lionesses opened the scores at the 25th minute of play through an excellent header executed by the right winger Gabraelle Aboudi Onguene.

The second goal for the girls of Carl Enow Ngatchu was a penalty shootout scored by the Lionesses’ Captain, Christine Patience Mani who sent the Egyptian goalkeeper on the opposite side.

The penalty that came at the 71st minute was a resolve of a bad game committed by an Egyptian attacker, who swept off the legs of Njoya Ajara at the goalpost.

Even though the Lionesses had many scoring opportunities, forwarders in the central and the sides like Nchout Njoya Ajara, Gaelle Deborah Enganamouit, Aboudi Onguene and the Ngono Mani portrayed professionalism and brilliance at every instance.

The first match, at ongoing 2016 Women AFCON played in favour of the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon was a true picture of how competitive the tournament proper is going to look like.

The Pharaohs of Egypt recorded two yellow cards while Cameroon registered one during a game that received boisterous support from both teams.

Worth noting is the fact that, Cameroon is hosting this football jamboree after 44 years today.

The 10th edition of the biggest women football event in Africa was placed under the banner ‘together against the marriages of young girls’.

There are fifteen other matches to go as South Africa will throw weights with Zimbabwe during the second match of the day later in the evening of November 19.

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Rita Akana

20.Nov.2016

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The female Mighty Warriors of Zimbabwe will face Cameroon on November 25 in the Africa Women Cup of Nations, AWCON, in Yaounde.

After qualifying for the Rio de Janiero Olympics in 2016 at the expense of Cameroon, the Warriors will be looking forward to repeating their 1-0 victory against Cameroon.

Zimbabwe is one of the teams that have all her players plying their football trade at home.

With a squad of players who work in the army, the police, the security sector and other jobs, the absence of a professional league, coupled with a situation in which women’s national team players earn a pittance for winning historic international qualifying matches means football alone can’t pay the bills.

The team is currently coached by Coach Shadreck Mlauzi; a physical education teacher and part-time national team coach.

The female Mighty Warriors debuted in the 1991 edition of AWCON, but withdrew from the tournament before playing a match. They played their first competitive international match in in 2000, when they drew 2–2 against Uganda on November 11, 2000.

The Zimbabwe female football team has been suffering from lack of a female professional league, inadequate training facilities, failed preparation matches, withheld contractual payment and bonuses, refusal to pay for travel to away matches and refusal to pay for treatment of injured players.

The lack of interest in the female football team was also shown when the players were rewarded for qualifying for the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations with each player given $50 to buy a dress.

In addition, before their participation at the 2016 Olympics, each player was being owed $3,500 each from the association.

Despite all these, the Female Mighty Warriors continue to make a name in football. Nevertheless, their patriotic spirit has seen them break barriers.

Their adventure at the Olympics saw them come home with no point; they at least gained some experience and will be looking forward to implementing that in the tournament.

This will be their fourth appearance at the AWCON with their best performance recorded in 2000 when they ended at the fourth position.

Players To Watch Out For

Coach Shadreck Mlauzi will be counting on the veteran goalkeeper, Chido Dzingirai, defender Nobuhle Majika, midfielders Emmaculate Msipa and Mavis Chirandu, and strikers Rudo Neshamba and Captain Felistas Muzongondi as The Mighty Warriors seek to come up with an upset in Cameroon.

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Basil Afoni

18.Nov.2016

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Since making their debut in the Africa Women Cup of Nations, AWCON, in 1995 that saw them reach the final, the Banyana Banyana of South Africa, are so far failed to win the final four times.
In 1995 and 2002, the Super Falcons of Nigeria beat the Banyana Banyana at the final. They again made it to the final stage in 2008 and 2012 but witnessed thrashing in the hands of two times champions, Equatorial Guinea.
The Banyana Banyana hold a record for having suffered the highest defeat in the finals when they were humiliated by an aggregate of 2-11 in the hands of the Super Falcons in 1995.
Joint highest tournament hosted with Nigeria, three times as AWCON host, the Banyana Banyana have appeared four times in the finals, two times in the third position, two times in the fourth position and have only failed to cross the group stage on two occasions (1998 and 2004).
Cameroon Vs South Africa Head to Head
The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon have faced Banyana Banyana seven times as far as the AWCON is concerned. Out of these seven battles, three have been battles for the third position.  So far, Banyana Banyana has recorded four victories against the Indomitable Lionesses who have recorded three victories against them.
When the two sides will meet in Yaounde on November 22, it will be their eighth meeting in the AWCON.

Out of the seven meetings, Cameroon has failed to score in two while South Africa failed to score in one.
The seven meetings have seen Banyana Banyana scoring a total of 11 goals and Cameroon 10 goals.
Players To Watch
Banyana Banyana interim coach, Desiree Ellis will be counting on the goal scoring prowess and experience of 31-year-old forward, Portia Modise, who score a total of 99 goals in 114 appearances for her country.
Also, the experience of 27-year-old centre defender, Janine Van Wyk, who doubles as captain with a total of 130 caps makes the defender an important player in the squad.
JVW FC 27-year-old midfielder, Mpumi Nyandeni, with a total of 114 will be another source of experience for the Banyana Banyana side that is seeking to break the final jinx.
With a record of 11 appearances and with an experience in the just-ended 2016 Olympics in Brazil, Banyana Banyana will be looking forward to lifting the trophy for the first time.

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Basil Afoni

18.Nov.2016

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