CHAN 2020: Lions Roar to Sink Leopards, Qualify for Semis

Yannick N’Djeng and Felix Oukine goals were enough for the Intermediate Lions to book a spot at the semi-finals of the CHAN.

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

The intermediate Lions of Cameroon have qualified for the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Nations Championship, CHAN. This victory for the boys of Coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile means the team have qualified for the semi-finals for the very first time.

DR Congo, who had earlier disputed and ordered for s second COVID-19 test to be done on the squad after it was reported that some thirteen persons had contracted the virus, took the lead at the 21^st minute of play through Makabi Lilepo, a player for AS Vita Club.

The lead would not last long though as Cameroon powered back to get an equalizer. Yannick N’Djeng of AS Fortuna brought the game to 1-1 after scoring the equalizer for Cameroon at the 29^th minute.

Cameroon will then move ahead as the game reached the first 45-minute mark. Felix Oukine, a player with Cotonsport of Garoua scored Cameroon’s second goal of the game at the 41^st-minute mark.

Cameroon's best performances have always been ending at the quarter-finals stage. In 2011 and 2016, the team could not go further than the quarter-finals stage as they were eliminated on both occasions.

This was the third meeti8ng between the DRC and Cameroon, with the game always ending in favour of the intermediate lions during the first half of play. This is the first time Cameroon is scoring at the quarter-finals after losing their previous games to Ivory Coast (0-3) after extra time and in 2016 lost 7-8 during the penalty shootout to Angola as the game had ended 0-0.

The playing style of the intermediate lions has been greatly appreciated across various sporting platforms in the country. "This is what we called Lionheart. I last saw this in 2017 (when Cameroon won the AFCON)," one sports analyst wrote.

Cameroon will thus face the winner of the game between defending champions Morocco against Zambia on February 3 at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium. Morocco faces Zambia this January 31 at the Douala Reunification Stadium.