- The curtains have drawn on the 13th All African Games, with Cameroon securing 17th place, boasting a collection of 30 medals
- While falling short of their 2019 gold medal haul, the nation found solace in weightlifting, which contributed a remarkable 12 medals to the total tally
- This mixed outcome highlights both the challenges and triumphs faced by the Cameroonian team
Finishing in 17th place, Cameroon marked its position at the close of the 13th All African Games on Saturday, March 23. The event, characterized by its high competitiveness and vibrant spirit, saw nations from across the continent vying for athletic supremacy.
The team brought home a total of 30 medals: three gold, 13 silver, and fourteen bronze. This performance, although commendable, did not reach the heights of the previous games held in Rabat in 2019, where the country’s athletes claimed five gold medals.
Despite this, the games were not without highlights for this Central African nation. The weightlifting team, in particular, shone brightly, claiming a significant portion of the country’s medals with two gold, seven silver, and three bronze.
Junior Périclex Ngadja Nyabeyeu, clinched the nation’s first two gold medals in the men’s 109kg category with a commanding performance in Accra. His triumph in the clean and jerk event mirrored his previous victory, adding to the prestigious gold he garnered at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
In a gripping finale, Nyabeyeu came tantalizingly close to a third gold in the men’s 109 snatch but ultimately secured a commendable silver.
In the women’s division, the formidable duo of Jeanne Gaëlle Eyenga and Estelle Momeni showcased their prowess by amassing an impressive six silver medals between them. Each athlete triumphed thrice, securing silver in the +81kg and +87kg categories across the total, snatch, and clean and jerk events.
Jeremie Ngouanom clinched three bronze in the men’s 81kg total, snatch, and clean and jerk events.
Stepping away from the weightlifting arena, Emmanuel Eseme, hailed as Africa’s swiftest sprinter, did not disappoint in the men’s 100-meter dash.
The seasoned 30-year-old athlete blazed across the finish line, clocking an impressive 10.14 seconds to secure first place. Eseme’s victory was a solitary highlight for Cameroon in athletics, as he was the only Cameroonian to make it to the final, with his fellow countrymen Claude Itoungue and Raphael Ngaguele bowing out in the semifinals.
His triumph earned Cameroon its exclusive medal in the track events, marking a memorable moment for the nation at the games.
Judo, the artful display of discipline and strength, brought pride to Cameroon with a haul of five medals. The judo mat witnessed the grace and grit of Marie Baba Maria, Zita Miami, and Audrey Etoua, who each adorned themselves with silver in their respective weight categories of -52kg, -70kg, and -67kg. Djengue Georgika added to the glory with a bronze in the -75kg class, while a spirited mixed team, including Baba Matia and seven valiant athletes, rounded off the judo triumphs with a team bronze.
Transitioning from the focused silence of the dojo to the fervent cheers of the wrestling arena, four Cameroonian warriors stood tall on the podium. Blandine Ngiri shone with a silver in the women’s freestyle 68kg, while Miriam Orock and Rosine Ntsa each battled to bronze in the 53kg and 50kg categories, respectively. In the men’s fray, Cedric Abossolo grappled his way to a commendable silver in the freestyle 86kg.
Not to be overshadowed, Yoan Dassi Tchouela’s fierce spirit earned him a bronze in the men’s kumite -67kg. His victory on March 8 was a beacon of hope, igniting Cameroon’s medal count at the African Games after a challenging start with three medal-less days.
This year’s outcome, which saw Cameroon finishing beyond the top 15 for the first time since 1978, serves as a poignant reminder of the declining state of some sports disciplines in the country. Many athletes did not participate in this competition due to a lack of funds, a situation that also affected the women’s football team.
Copyright©2023 kick442.com-Cameroon
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written, or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from our management.
This site is not responsible for the content displayed by external sites
English 
French