By Awambeng Fuh
Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon
Cameroon’s Under-20 women’s national team booked their place in the fourth round of the CAF Women’s Under-20 World Cup qualifiers despite suffering a 1-0 defeat away to Botswana on Friday.
The girls managed by coach Hassan Balla went into the second leg of the third qualifying round with a commanding first-leg advantage and did just enough to secure progression in Gaborone, advancing 5-1 on aggregate.
Mbapeua Hangara scored the only goal of the encounter in the 77th minute, handing Botswana a deserved consolation victory in front of their home fans. The late strike, however, proved insufficient to overturn the heavy deficit from the first leg as Cameroon’s earlier dominance ultimately decided the tie.
Having cruised to a comprehensive win in the opening leg in Yaoundé, Cameroon travelled to Gaborone with confidence and managed the contest professionally, absorbing pressure and limiting clear-cut chances for the hosts for much of the match.
Botswana showed greater urgency after the break and were rewarded when Hangara found the breakthrough with just over 10 minutes remaining. But the visitors held firm in the closing stages to ensure safe passage into the next round.
Cameroon will now face either Kenya or Tanzania in the fourth round of qualifying. Kenya currently hold a slender 1-0 advantage over Tanzania from the first leg of their tie, with the return fixture still to be played.
The progression keeps Cameroon firmly on course in their bid to secure a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, as the Central African nation continues its strong tradition in women’s youth football on the continental stage.
Qualification for the Poland tournament will mean back to back appearances at the FIFA World Cup, having reached the eighth final last time out.
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