Cameroon extinguishes Algeria and flies to Qatar

Fol extension! A last-second goal from Karl-Toko Ekambi (120^and + 4) sent Cameroon to the World Cup, shattering the dream of Algeria (2-1 aet) who thought they could hold their place with a goal in the 118^andTuesday, in Blida.

The image of coach Djamel Belmadi in tears on his knees on the field illustrates this incredible end to the match, while the Indomitable Lions jumped for joy everywhere.

Opposite, the legend Rigobert Song, in his second match as coach only, radiated happiness. He succeeded, reversing the defeat of the first leg in Douala (1-0).

By appearing in the area, Toko-Ekambi, taking over a cross from Collins Fai deflected by Mickaël Ngadeu, deceived Raïs Mbholi and honored the “hemle”, the Cameroonian “grinta”. The Indomitable Lions are never beaten.

However, the goal of Ahmed Touba (118^and), with a header from a corner, was to sign the end of the Cameroonian dream and send Algeria to Qatar.

André Onana, the Cameroonian goalkeeper who had stopped everything until then, was crazy against his teammate Pierre Koundé who had dropped the mark. The Blida stadium, heated for hours, was delirious.

Cruel for Algeria

The end is cruel for Algeria, which had conceded a first goal on a scramble of its defense, Aissa Mandi bringing down its own goalkeeper, Raïs Mbholi, leaving Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting to score in the deserted goal.

But the “Greens” missed a lot of opportunities, from the huge failure of Youcef Belaïli (29^and) to goals disallowed for offside (50^and) or hand (98th) to Islam Slimani. That of extra time blew up the whole stadium, which celebrated the goal for long minutes before Gassama refused it, the Sporting Portugal striker touching the ball with his arm.

Cameroon also missed two match points on the same action by Towomba and Martin Hongla (68^and).

Rigobert Song, criticized after the failure of the first leg, innovated by establishing the unknown Léandre Tawamba, who plays in Saudi Arabia at Al Taawoun, no longer established with the Lions since 2018. For his 5^and selection, at 32, he mistreated the defense.

“Choupo”, captain since Vincent Aboubakar, hit in the heel, started on the bench.

This is the eighth participation for the Indomitable Lions, the African country most often at the World Cup, ahead of Nigeria (6 participations), eliminated Tuesday by Ghana (0-0/1-1), Morocco and Tunisia, qualified Tuesday for a sixth edition. Algeria remains blocked at four Worlds, and Belmadi is inconsolable.