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Karl Toko-Ekambi scored at the last minute of extra time and the Indomitable Lions validated their ticket to Qatar, at the expense of inconsolable Algerians.
The joy of Cameroonians at the final whistle on Tuesday.
IMAGO/Xinhua
Crazy extension! A last-second goal from Karl Toko-Ekambi (120th + 4) sent Cameroon to the World Cup, shattering the dream of Algeria (2-1 aet) who thought they could hold their place with a goal in the 118th , Tuesday in Blida.
The image of coach Djamel Belmadi in tears on his knees on the field illustrates this incredible end to the match, while the Indomitable Lions jumped for joy everywhere. Legend Rigobert Song, in only his second match as coach, was beaming with happiness. He succeeded, reversing the defeat of the first leg in Douala (1-0).
By appearing in the area, Toko-Ekambi, taking over a cross from Collins Fai deflected by Mickaël Ngadeu, deceived Raïs Mbholi and honored the “hemle”, the Cameroonian “grinta”. However, the goal of Ahmed Touba (118th), with a header from a corner, was to sign the end of the Cameroonian dream and send Algeria to Qatar.
André Onana, the Cameroonian goalkeeper who had stopped everything until then, was crazy against his teammate Pierre Koundé who had dropped the mark. The Blida stadium, heated for hours, was delirious.
An eighth participation in the World Cup, an African record
The end is cruel for Algeria, which had conceded a first goal on a scramble of its defense, Aissa Mandi bringing down its own goalkeeper, Raïs Mbholi, leaving Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting to score in the deserted goal.
But the “Greens” missed a lot of opportunities, from the huge miss by Youcef Belaïli (29th) to the goals disallowed for offside (50th) or hand (98th) to Islam Slimani. That of extra time blew up the whole stadium, which celebrated the goal for long minutes before Gassama refused it, the Sporting Portugal striker touching the ball with his arm. Cameroon also missed two match points on the same action by Towomba and Martin Hongla (68th).
Rigobert Song, criticized after the failure of the first leg, innovated by establishing the unknown Léandre Tawamba, who plays in Saudi Arabia at Al Taawoon, no longer established with the Lions since 2018. For his 5th selection, at 32, he hurt the defense. “Choupo”, captain since Vincent Aboubakar, hit in the heel, started on the bench.
This is the eighth participation for the Indomitable Lions, the African country most often at the World Cup, ahead of Nigeria (6 participations), eliminated Tuesday by Ghana (0-0/1-1), Morocco and Tunisia, qualified Tuesday for a sixth edition. Algeria remains blocked at four Worlds, and Belmadi is inconsolable.
“Collapsed”
“We collapsed. We put our lives on hold for this game. For our country, our people”, launched the coach of Algeria, Djamel Belmadi, after the defeat. The sky has fallen on our heads. It’s football, it’s sport. But it’s our whole life, at the same time. I don’t know if we failed mentally. Ten seconds from a World Cup, it is surely a problem of concentration, of lucidity. You will have to get up. Algeria is a great nation. There are still great things to do, with or without me.”
(AFP)