Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
When Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo take the field at Stade Omnisports Ahmadou Ahidjo this Sunday, the city of Yaoundé will be electrified.
The CAF Champions League second preliminary round sees Cameroon’s newest champions host MC Alger, with a coveted group-stage spot at stake. Kick-off is 14:00 local time.
This tie is a test of experience versus emergence — a continental examination of whether Colombe can translate domestic triumph into African relevance.
From Dja-et-Lobo to the Continental Stage
Few clubs in Cameroon have made a rise as dramatic as Colombe’s. From relative obscurity, they captured their first-ever MTN Elite One title last season, signaling that a new power has emerged in Cameroonian football.
At the helm stands Richard Towa, the architect of this ascent. Known for his tactical intelligence and ability to instill discipline, Towa has transformed Colombe into a cohesive unit that is compact defensively yet threatening in transition.
Between the posts is Edouard Sombang, the unlikeliest of heroes. The goalkeeper has kept two clean sheets in two CAF Champions League matches, anchoring the defence and leading by example.
Leadership and Key Players
Randy Kwalar, the captain and midfield dynamo, drives the team both physically and emotionally. His ability to dictate play and marshal his teammates makes him the heartbeat of Colombe.
Up front, Adam Musah, scorer of the decisive winner against Senegal’s ASC Jaraaf, is the player to watch. His runs, instinctive finishing, and opportunism could define the tie. Boris Ekotto, the fleet-footed winger, provides speed and unpredictability on the flanks, crucial for counter-attacks.
MC Alger: Experience Meets Expectation
MC Alger arrive as North African heavyweights. Under Rulani Mokwena, the South African tactician, MCA have combined tactical sophistication with a pressing intensity honed at Mamelodi Sundowns.
They dispatched Liberia’s FC Fassell 3–0 at home after a 0–0 away draw in the first preliminary round. Mokwena’s side is built around possession, tempo, and structure, and they know how to control the rhythm of two-legged ties.
Key players include Soufiane Bayazid (forward), Amine Messoussa (midfield), Mohamed Saliou Bangoura (striker), and Ayoub Ghezala (centre-back). Each brings experience, composure, and the ability to exploit Colombe’s inexperience at this stage.
Players to Watch
Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo
- Edouard Sombang (Goalkeeper) – Two clean sheets in two continental matches; the wall behind Towa’s disciplined defence.
- Randy Kwalar (Captain, Midfield) – The team’s metronome and emotional leader; dictates tempo, disrupts opposition, and launches counters.
- Adam Musah (Forward) – Scorer against Jaraaf, poised to exploit any defensive lapses.
- Boris Ekotto (Winger) – Lightning pace and unpredictability, perfect for counter-attacks and stretching the field.
MC Alger
- Soufiane Bayazid (Forward) – Quick, clever, and clinical.
- Amine Messoussa (Midfield) – Creative hub; controls tempo and transitions.
- Ayoub Ghezala (Defence) – Commanding presence at the back, crucial for shutting down Sindjo and Ekotto.
- Mohamed Saliou Bangoura (Striker) – Physical, composed, and clinical inside the box.
Tactical Battle
Richard Towa’s Colombe operate with compactness, discipline, and a focus on transitions — likely in a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to frustrate MCA, absorb pressure, and strike on the counter.
Rulani Mokwena’s MCA, in contrast, prefer a 4-3-3 setup, built on possession, fluid movement, and positional control. The duel in midfield — Kwalar vs Messoussa — may dictate which team controls the match.
Stakes
For Colombe, progression to the group stage would be historic — a first for the club and a symbolic triumph for Cameroon’s domestic league.
For MC Alger, anything less than qualification would be a disappointment, given their investment, infrastructure, and continental pedigree. The first leg in Yaoundé is crucial: a clean sheet or a narrow win could tilt the tie before the return in Algeria.
Verdict
MC Alger are favourites, roughly 70–30 to advance, based on experience and squad depth.
Yet, Colombe have already defied expectations this season. With Sombang’s reliability in goal, Kwalar’s leadership, Sindjo’s finishing, and Towa’s tactical acumen, the Cameroonian champions could keep the tie alive, setting up an enthralling return leg in Algiers.
Prediction: Colombe 1–0 MC Alger (First Leg)
— The dream of group-stage qualification remains alive.
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