Benjamin Moukandjo’s 38th minute penalty kick and Toko Charles’ 53rd minute grounder following a corner kick kept Cameroon shining in last Saturday AFCON – Gabon 2017 qualifier match against visiting Gambia at the Limbe Cameroon had already sealed its qualification for Gabon next year at the helm of group M when they beat Mauritania 0-1 on 3 June in Nouackchott this year. 

With last 3 September win over Gambia in Limbe, Cameroon continued its invincibility on their new Limbe Omnisports home-turf inaugurated 26 March this year with a disappointing 2-2 draw against South Africa. 

Opening hostilities at 3.30 pm, Saturday, at the sumptuous 20.000-sitter Limbe Omnisports facility, the Scorpions appeared more enthusiastic and made early incursions into the Indomitable Lions camp compelling keeper Ondoa Farice to spectacular saves. The Gambians obtained successive corner kicks. The half-full stadium maintained their cheers for the Lions. The Lion’s head-coach, Hugo Broos, remained calm and the tide overturned 38 minutes later when the Lion’s attacker, Toko Charles, was brought down by the Gambian’s defender, Jallow Lamin, in their penalty zone.

The Ghanaian central referee, Joseph Odartei Lamptey, sounded his whistle and pointed indisputably to the penalty spot. Moukandjo, the Lion’s captain, landed the ball in the Gambian net for a curtain-raiser plucking the smile of Sports and Physical Education, Ismael Bidoung Mpatt, who had worked so hard to secure a hitch-free encounter in Cameroon.

Play resumed for the second half and the Lions continued pressure henpecking the Gambians and invading their backyard. Toko benefitted from a goal-mouth tussle following a corner kick and bulleted a second goal leaving the Gambian keeper, Jobe Modu, helpless on the ground. The last 15 minutes of the match saw both coaches changing players. Play intensified but produced no more goals till Lamptey sounded his final whistle.