From the shackles of Congo, the Indomitable Lions sneaked out with a point to go top of Group G after the second game of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Tipped as favorites prior to kickoff, Cameroon shockingly found themselves in a tight corner where most of their efforts were geared toward fighting for survival rather than dominance.
What is 60 percent possession of the ball if your opponents hit the target seven times against one?
Defensively, David Pagou and his boys were basically unconvincing. In 90 minutes, they recorded just nine tackles, same number of interceptions, 28 clearances, and not even a single block.
Without the goalkeeper’s staggering six saves, the story would have been much worse.
The Congolese, meanwhile, won 14 tackles, made 35 clearances and 12 interceptions, and blocked five shots to give their goalkeeper the leisure of just one save.
In terms of duels won, which seems to be the most important element of this write-up, Bryan Mbeumo and his teammates managed just 49 against 54.
This gap, though minimal, proved that the opponents fought harder. The Congolese did better off the ball than Pagou’s men.
Their pressing was what spoiled the party for Cameroon, who appeared to be overladen with complacency.
And if there was any iota of complacency in the team, as many observers have pointed out, then we are back to the drawing board. We are back to the altar where we sacrificed the so-called big names in order to birth a team of no-names who would roll in mud for Cameroonians to celebrate in front of their television sets.
Everywhere a team is placed above individual talents, players do not stand and wait for the ball. They chase it like hungry lions chasing prey on which their survival depends.
The head coach of the national team might have to rethink his strategy and tactics.
Many pundits have suggested sticking to a starting lineup so that the players get used to each other. Only then would there be a true connection and harmony in their passes.
The time for constant rotations might just be over already.
