Cape Verde close out maiden WAFCON appearance with draw against Cameroon

There was nothing at stake between Cameroon, who were guaranteed to finish top of Group D, and Cape Verde, who had already been eliminated. At the end of a lively match, the two sides claimed a point each, much to the delight of the Blue Sharks, who secured their very first point at an Africa Cup of Nations (1-1). 

As expected, the Indomitable Lionesses took control of the match and came close to opening the scoring as early as the 12th minute.

Following a quick counter-attack launched after winning the ball back in their own half, Cameroon drove forward. Montauban player Fadimatou Aretouyap played the ball back to Brunelle Beulou, whose shot was deflected by Cape Verdean captain Varsenia da Luz and struck Lara Silva’s right-hand post. 

The Blue Sharks were largely on the back foot, forced to defend deep in their own half. And at the 10th attempt, Cameroon found the net. Following a throw-in near the edge of the box, Naomi Ndjoah Eto crossed towards Grace Mendoua, who had time to control the ball and wait for the rebound before unleashing an unstoppable, powerful shot. 

Cape Verde finished the first half on a higher note, although this consisted of a scramble between two players and goalkeeper Catherine Biya , who had come out to the edge of her box, followed by a free-kick from Evy Pereira that sailed over the bar.

And shortly after the break, Ivania Moreira broke down the left flank before curling a gem into the far top corner. 

The Lionesses reacted quickly but lacked either power or precision - as with a second-ball opportunity following a corner that Claudia Voulania failed to keep on target (59th minute) - or because Silva deflected a cross from Gabrielle Onguene at the last moment. 

From a free-kick out wide, Collete Ndzana sent a long ball into the box and, on the rebound, substitute Michaela Abam found enough space to slot a right-footed shot into the back of the net. The joy was short-lived: following a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for a previous Cameroonian foul. 

Ndjoah Eto had a chance to seal the match on the stroke of stoppage time, but Silva came out on top in their one-on-one. The goalkeeper then saved a shot from Beulou. Shortly afterwards, it was Biya who shone, tipping an attemptby Alivia Kelly from the edge of the box over the bar. 

In the quarter-finals, Cameroon will face Nigeria in a real clash of the titans. For Cape Verde, this is a historic achievement in the Blue Sharks’ first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, just eight years after the women’s national team was formed. 

View the match stats on Flashscore.