Aigle Royal de la Menoua suffered a cruel setback at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, falling 0-1 at home to Ivorian side FC San Pedro in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round.
Outsmarted tactically and punished at the crucial moment, the Cameroonian outfit now faces a daunting challenge in the return fixture, where they must score at least twice in Abidjan to stand a chance of progressing.
Despite the stakes, the turnout at the stadium was not one to write home about. Only a modest crowd made the trip, and while the faithful supporters tried to lift their team with chants and encouragement, the empty seats told their own story of fading confidence in the Menoua-based side.
Aigle Royal nevertheless began the game with attacking intent. As early as the 2nd minute, Yamedjeu tested the opposing goalkeeper with a powerful strike, raising hopes of a dominant performance. But San Pedro responded almost instantly, forcing goalkeeper Fansu into action in what set the tone for a tense, hard-fought encounter.
After the lively opening exchanges, the momentum shifted. San Pedro gradually asserted control, dictating play through patient possession and clever movement. Despite being on the back foot, Aigle had a golden chance just before halftime when Ndiforchu’s header was saved brilliantly. Both teams went into the break locked at 0-0, but with the visitors looking more assured.
The second half unfolded much like the first: Aigle Royal started brightly but failed to sustain their pressure. At the 53rd minute, the visitors produced a moment of brilliance. A slick one-two between Yao Koffi and Abi Kassi carved open the Cameroonian defense, with Kassi applying the finishing touch by slipping the ball through Fansu’s legs to give San Pedro the lead.
San Pedro starting XI against Aigle
From there, the Ivorians controlled proceedings with composure, nearly doubling their advantage on several occasions. They hit the crossbar in the 70th minute and saw a second goal ruled out for offside.
The turning point could have come in the 82nd minute when San Pedro were awarded a penalty after Coulibaly was brought down in the box. However, Abi Kassi squandered the opportunity to seal the game, blasting his effort high into the stands. The miss offered Aigle Royal a glimmer of hope, but they lacked the firepower and precision to mount a comeback.
The 0-1 loss means Aigle Royal must now score at least twice away in Côte d’Ivoire to keep their Confederation Cup dreams alive. Coach Wamba and his men face a daunting task against a San Pedro side that displayed tactical maturity and attacking sharpness in Yaoundé. For the Ivorian visitors, the performance was a statement of intent, leaving them favorites to advance.
For Aigle Royal, however, the road ahead looks treacherous. Only a spirited and near-perfect performance in Abidjan will be enough to overturn the deficit and keep their continental ambitions alive.
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