Libya defeated Cameroon 2-1 in the 2014 World Cup qualifying second matchday played in the Tunisian city of Sfax on Sunday after the encounter was relocated from Tripoli following continued political instability in the country.
The north Africans were playing host to Cameroon in a foreign land and without supporters after the local authorities decided the meeting be held behind closed doors due to security reasons.
The Indomitable Lions, who came into the match with three points from their previous win against the DR Congo, had wanted to strengthen their lead in Group I by dominating a seemingly timid Libyan side, but soon realised they would have to fight hard after CA Bizertin striker Ahmed Zuway put the hosts in the lead eight minutes into the game.
The Cameroonians, however, powered on to erode the Knights’ growing confidence by pulling level just after 15 minutes through Mainz forward Choupo-Moting, who has scored at least a goal in each of the team’s recent games.
The session gradually settled into a nerve-racking deadlock, with neither side capable of grabbing the winner, however, shaky defending from the home side opened several breaches for the central Africans after they seized the game in style in the last quarter, but most of the chances were cheaply wasted.
When it looked as though both teams were heading for a final 1-1 draw, Libya scraped the winner through Club Africain striker Ahmed Saad Osman.
Cameroon goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni leapt forth to parry a corner kick during injury time but was beaten to it by Osman, whose header blew past the Malaga guardian and into goal, sealing the 2-1 win for the hosts.
Libya are now leaders of Group I with four points ahead of DR Congo, who defeated Togo 2-0 earlier in the day.