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Cameroon lost their World Cup opener in Qatar. A 1-0 defeat against Switzerland with a goal from Breel Embolo, a native of Yaoundé playing for the Nati where he arrived at the age of 6.
When Breel Embolo cheated on André Onana in the 48e minute, his first instinct was to celebrate his first World Cup goal. Then he realised. And as promised, he lowered his head and stopped. Because the victory of Switzerland against Cameroon inevitably leaves a bitter taste for the young 25-year-old striker. It is his country of birth with which he keeps deep ties.
He preferred Switzerland
“I have good relations with several players, they are really friends. This match is a bit of a direct and indirect conflict (laughs). I know there will be a lot of emotion”, explained the most cameroonians Swiss on the eve of the match. And the emotion did not prevent him from playing his role as the spearhead of the Nati.
Embolo obtained his Swiss passport in 2014. When it came to choosing his selection, he rejected an offer from Cameroon who wanted to take him to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. However, he chose Switzerland where he arrived at the 6 years old after a short stay in France.
He never forgot Cameroon: “I have a lot of friends there, the majority of my family lives there, my dad still lives in Cameroon”, he explained on the eve of the match, ensuring that he was the first Indomitable Lions fan.
Cameroon spoils
Indomitable Lions who can harbor regrets. Cornered in the first quarter of an hour, the Cameroonians first knew how to be dangerous on quick transitions. Mbeumo was thus found in the depths. However, he chooses to ignore Choupo-Moting at the far post, to prefer a cross shot that Sommer pushes back. The ball then fails on Toko-Ekambi who propels his half-volley over (10e). Situation reversed a few minutes later with the Bayern striker who escaped but did not cross for his compatriot from Brentford (14e).
The “Nati” retreats and Cameroon takes control of the game. Hongla signals with an attempt that Sommer rejects. Toko-Ekambi is very close to pushing deep, but it is cleared in extremis by a Swiss defender (30e). Collins Fai overflows on the right and delivers a low cross for Toko-Ekambi, but Widmer beats him in front of goal to ward off the danger (35e).
However, Switzerland recall just before the break that they did not go for nothing in the quarter-finals of Euro-2021 : Embolo escapes and it takes a comeback in extremis and a perfect tackle from Castelleto to save the Cameroonian homeland. On the corner that follows, the ball lands on the head of Elvedi. His recovery grazes the post (44e).
It was on returning from the locker room that Embolo knocked out his friends. Xhaka finds Freuler alone in the axis which shifts Shaqiri to the right. This last center at the penalty spot for the native of Yaoundé who easily concludes (48e1-0).
In reaction, Choupo-Moting performs a small number in the surface along the line. He takes his chance from a tight angle but Sommer diverts for a corner (55e).
If the Swiss are close to doubling the lead twice (65e et 66e), Cameroon play their game late in the game. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting leaves his place to the emblematic Vincent Aboubakar, top scorer of the CAN, to the applause of the Cameroonians who made the trip. But the latter fails to reverse the situation.
The African teams still can’t do it in this World Cup in Qatar. Before Ghana’s game against Portugal [17 heures, heure de Paris], neither of them has managed to score a goal since the start of the tournament. Above all, the Cameroonians have greatly complicated their chances of reaching the round of 16, while they still have Serbia and especially Brazil to face. Embolo must hope that his Cameroonian family forgives him.
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