Cameroon Completes Unbeaten AFCON Qualifying Run with 2-1 Victory Over Zimbabwe

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon — The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon wrapped up their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, defeating Zimbabwe 2-1 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé. The win secured Cameroon’s unbeaten status at the top of Group J with 14 points, while Zimbabwe, despite the loss, clinched second place with nine points to book their spot in the tournament.

The match showcased Cameroon’s early dominance, as they took control within the first 23 minutes. Captain Vincent Aboubakar opened the scoring in the 18th minute, rifling a powerful shot into the top corner after a perfectly timed assist from Georges-Kevin Nkoudou.

Five minutes later, Nkoudou turned scorer, slotting home Cameroon’s second goal after a blistering counterattack orchestrated by Christian Bassogog. The fluidity and precision of Cameroon’s attacking play left Zimbabwe struggling to keep up throughout the first half.

In the second half, Zimbabwe rallied, showing resilience and determination. Terrence Dzvukamanja offered a lifeline in the 73rd minute, firing a spectacular left-footed strike from outside the box to halve the deficit. The Warriors came close to an equaliser in the 81st minute when a thunderous effort struck the post, but their late surge was thwarted by Cameroon’s sturdy defence and crucial saves from goalkeeper Andre Onana.

The victory underlines Cameroon’s status as a strong contender for the Africa Cup of Nations, with their unbeaten run emphasizing their readiness for the challenges ahead. Zimbabwe’s earlier performances ensured their qualification, marking a return to Africa’s premier football tournament and an opportunity to build on their progress.

Since taking over from Rigobert Song in April this year, Marc Brys has had a superb start to life as coach of the Indomitable Lions. The Belgian tactician is still unbeaten as Cameroon coach, having played 8 games, recorded 5 wins, 3 draws, 13 goals scored, and just 4 conceded.

"I am here to rejuvenate the team, the reason why we made quite some changes against Zimbabwe today," Cameroon Coach Marc Brys said after the game. "Against Zimbabwe, we had a good first half, we had to score like five goals but we made errors, plus the sun and the aggressiveness of our opponent was against us."

"Cameroon played at home, rested enough and had five training sessions. We had a flight of 35 hours and barely trained. Mentally, my players were tired and the humidity was not favourable though we had a big character in the second half," Coach Michael Nees of Zimbabwe said.

"Cameroon is a mighty football country with self-confidence and at times, much arrogance on the pitch. Anyone facing them has to be on the alert."

In the other Group J match, Kenya and Namibia played a goalless draw at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. The result confirmed Kenya’s third-place finish with six points, while Namibia ended at the bottom with two points. Namibia failed to secure a single win, finishing at the bottom with two points and scoring just two goals in six matches.

As the countdown to the tournament begins, Cameroon eyes another shot at continental glory, while Zimbabwe will aim to surprise their rivals on the big stage.