- Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions delivered a commanding performance, defeating Kenya’s Harambee Stars 4-1 in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium
- Vincent Aboubakar opened the scoring with an early penalty, while Martin Hongla, Bryan Mbeumo, and Christian Bassogog added to the tally
- Despite a brief resurgence from Kenya, the Lions maintained control to secure a spot at the top of Group J
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions delivered a masterclass performance, thrashing Kenya’s Harambee Stars 4-1 in a dominant display during their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé on Friday, October 11, 2024.
This emphatic victory has solidified their position at the top of Group J.
The match began with intensity as Cameroon quickly asserted their dominance. Just eight minutes in, captain Vincent Aboubakar converted a penalty after Erick Ouma was penalized for handball in the box. This early breakthrough set the tone for a game where Cameroon would dictate the pace and rhythm.
Kenya struggled to find their footing, appearing jittery and flat-footed against a relentless Cameroonian side. Despite their efforts to regroup, they found themselves two goals down when Martin Hongla unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box in the 39th minute. Kenyan goalkeeper Patrick Matasi fumbled the shot, allowing the ball to slip into the net, further compounding Kenya’s woes.
However, just before halftime, Kenya clawed one back through skipper Michael Olunga, who deftly directed a free kick from Ouma past André Onana. This momentary glimmer of hope was short-lived as Bryan Mbeumo restored Cameroon’s two-goal cushion just moments later, tapping in from close range after a well-placed cross from Christian Bassogog.
The second half saw Cameroon maintain their momentum. Coach Marc Brys’ side continued to press high and control possession, completing 496 passes compared to Kenya’s 312. In the 55th minute, Bassogog capped off an impressive performance by scoring Cameroon’s fourth goal, finishing off a swift counterattack initiated by Hongla.
Despite making tactical changes—substituting Amos Nondi for Joseph Okumu to shore up the defense—Kenya struggled to regain any semblance of control. The Indomitable Lions were relentless, showcasing fluid passing and sharp movement that left Kenya scrambling defensively.
As the match drew to a close, Coach Engin Firat made additional substitutions in an attempt to inject fresh energy into his side, bringing on John Avire and Alfred Scriven. However, these changes failed to alter the course of the game as Cameroon continued to dominate.
Marc Brys made tactical substitutions, bringing on Ngamaleu for Bassogog and introducing Atemengue Nzie in place of Carlos Baleba, marking the latter’s first minutes for the national team.
In the dying moments of the match, Kunde Malong replaced Hongla, while Frank Magri took over from captain Vincent Aboubakar, ensuring the scoreline remained unchanged.
With this decisive victory, Cameroon sits atop Group J with seven points after three matches, while Kenya remains in third place with four points. The two teams are set for a rematch in Kampala on Monday, October 14, where Kenya will need to regroup quickly to avoid further damage to their AFCON qualification hopes.
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