Just like the Super Falcons of Nigeria 24 hours earlier, the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon have been knocked out of the FIFAWWC in France after losing 3-0 to the Three Lionesses of England.
Having won all three group stage games conceding just ones, England once again got the job done by controlling the game and taking their chances when it mattered. The Three Lionesses ran rings round the Indomitable Lionesses for the majority of the game with their quick and incisive passing game which saw them hold on to possession and make it difficult for Cameroon to threaten them defensively.
Scored by captain Steph Houghton, the first goal which was scored in the 14th minute resulted from a free kick at the edge of the 6 yard-box of Cameroon after goalkeeper Ndom was judged to have handled a back pass from her defender. Houghton stepped up and made no mistake drilling the ball low and hard beyond Ndom and her team mates in the wall.
Despite England’s possession and control of the game, Cameroon had good counter attacking chances but the trio of Abam, Nchout Ajora and Gaelle Enganamouit upfront failed to make anything out of the spaces they had in and around the England defence.
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Having failed to score or trouble Bradsley in goal for England, Cameroon were soon punished by a second goal by Ellen White late into added time in the first half. The Cameroonian however felt hard done by calling for an offside and refusing to get on with the game. The referee however got the players back into the game and with added time already exhausted she blew the whistle for the end of the first half.
The second half began in similar fashion as Cameroon came out and pulled a goal back which was cancelled for offside. At this point, the Indomitable Lionesses were absolutely livid with the decision but the game had to go one as England held on to their two goal advantage.
As always in a game of football, the less dominant team if patient will always have their chances and it wasn’t different for Cameroon who created a couple of chances in the second period but couldn’t convert.
Having failed to convert their chances, England pounced for the third goal which ensured any hope of another dramatic comeback was dashed.
After the game, Cameroon coach Alain Djeumfa said: “It’s perhaps a little too early in the day to say things right away. I want to look at the positives as well as the negatives that have prevented us from making it through to the last 8. We’re going to try and work on all of this for future tournaments and try to improve the game in Cameroon as a whole.”
This result means that all three African representatives at the 2019 FIFAWWC have been eliminated and they will all now have to look inward and get down to work in order to achieve better results in future.
