AFCON Matchday Preview: Cameroon on the Hunt for Glory as Comoros Sets to Make AFCON History

AFCON Matchday Preview: Cameroon on the Hunt for Glory as Comoros Sets to Make AFCON History

Though the host Cameroon are favorites, Les Coelecantes’ goalkeeping crisis is what has caught the eye of football lovers.

Following Nigeria’s shocking elimination from the AFCON, Many believe the Host Nation Cameroon are the odds-on favorites to go all the way. But like the quote of Jean de la Fontaine, “There is no road of flowers leading to glory” and standing in the way of the Indomitable Lions, are the spirited Les Coelecantes. The boys from Comoros who years from now will most likely be a template for how a minnow should approach an AFCON.

It promises to be a rather interesting encounter as well as a rather peculiar one. The clash between Cameroon and Comoros will see a really strange AFCON record set.

Precisely, the Comorians will be without any of their 3 goalkeepers hence, the match will see an outfield player go into the goal from the blast of the whistle for the first time in a major tournament like the AFCON, with Salim Ben Boina injured and both Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada testing positive for COVID-19.

 In what promises to be a festival of goals, it is worthy to note that Cameroon were the top scorers in the group stage with 7 goals, and Captain Vicente Aboubakar having a stellar competition, leads the top scorers’ chart with 5 goals.

The minnows will hope their chosen emergency keeper proves a revelation at Stade d'Olembe, but the prospects for Comoros appear bleak, despite them reaching the knockout stages with a shock 3-2 win over Ghana.

This will be the first Africa Cup of Nations encounter between Cameroon and Comoros, who on Saturday reported a total of 12 COVID cases in their camp.

Cameroon has reached at least the quarter-finals in eight of their last 10 Africa Cup of Nations appearances, although they have failed to do so in two of the previous three editions (group stage in 2015 and last-16 in 2019).

One to watch: The rookie goalkeeper

Whoever gets the gloves faces a daunting challenge. Cameroon attempted 35 shots in the group stage, more than any other side, and also tried 63 crosses (only Senegal and Egypt had more). Comoros shipped five goals in three games when they had a recognized goalkeeper, losing two of their three Group B games. They should be ripe for being picked off by the home team in Yaounde.

Prediction

The Indomitable Lions will be looking to make a statement win against the Coelacanths with the only question here being how many can they put past the Comorian defense.

We at betBonanza tip the host nation to clinch victory precisely with a 90% chance.