Cameroon humbled visiting Guinea Bissau 1-0 on Saturday at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde to book their place for the second and final qualifying round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Indomitable Lions came into the match with a one-goal lead from the first leg played in Bissau last February and needed a simple draw to sail through, but the encounter was more than just an Afcon qualifying affair to the team, fans and officials of the central African nation.
Coach Denis Lavagne, who came under fire after losing 2-1 to Libya last weekend in 2014 World Cup qualifying, was determined to present a new face to the public, but the lone goal victory seemed far from appeasing.
The star-studded home side was held goalless in the first half by Guinea Bissau, who had a share of chances to pull off a shock as well, had sloppy passes and lack of focus not robbed them.
Cameroon had to toil until the 80th minute to break the deadlock, which came through Nancy striker Benjamin Moukandjo, who was cleverly set up from the left flank by Valenciennes’ Aboubakar Vincent, before side stepping the Djurtus’ goalkeeper Jonas Mendes to finish his effort in the back of the net.
Very few people in Cameroon had doubts that their team would beat the visitors, but the nature of the game and score line were the yardstick many wanted to judge them and the new technical staff by.
Cameroon are thus through to the second and final round of the 2013 Afcon qualifying, and are apparently determined to make up for their absence from the 2012 Afcon by reaching South Africa 2013 come January.