Yves Clement Arroga off to a Tough Start as Panther Sportive Falls to Astres of Douala

• Panther Sportive lost 2-1 to Astres in Yves Clement Arroga’s debut as head coach
• The Panthers took an early lead with a goal from Ahmed Shepeh
• The brazillians equalized with a penalty and secured the win with a late strike from Ismaila Seidou

Yves Clement Arroga’s tenure as head coach of Panther Sportive began on a challenging note, as his side succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against the Brazilians of Bepanda in matchday seven.

Despite a promising start, Panther Sportive was unable to hold their lead, ultimately facing a bitter first loss under Arroga’s stewardship.

Nzuimanto came out of the blocks quickly, dominating possession and pressing high up the pitch. Their efforts paid off in the 14th minute when Fopa Brandon unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, finding the back of the net after a quick counter-attack.

This early goal set the tone for an exhilarating first half, with Panther Sportive looking solid at the back and effectively neutralizing Bepanda’s attacking threats. Captain Bertine Nguemaleu marshaled his defense with authority.

Ahmed Shepeh and Bea Bato both had opportunities to test goalkeeper Ulrich Gabriel Nzong but were thwarted by a resolute defensive block.

As the second half kicked off, Astres came out with renewed vigor. In the 56th minute, disaster struck for Panther when Bea Bato found himself in a tangle with two defenders in the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, and Bato confidently converted the penalty, leveling the score at 1-1.

The momentum shifted dramatically in favor of the douala based side, who capitalized on their newfound confidence. The decisive moment came in the 72nd minute when substitute Ismaila Seidou showcased his poaching instincts.

After Franck Daniel Dipanda intercepted a pass from Fopa Brandon, he delivered a pinpoint cross to Seidou on the far right. Seidou made a clever run, drawing goalkeeper Nzong out of position before slotting home what would be the winning goal.

With less than 20 minutes remaining on the clock, the host expertly managed the game, keeping Panther at bay and securing all three points.