Cameroon U-23 Lions: crash out of Islamic Solidarity Games after defeat to Turkey

The boys of coach Feutchine Guy-appointed last month were stunned by a second half comeback from their rivals despite taking full control of the game in the first half.
Eren Karadag cancelled out Marou Souaibou’s 24th minute lead at the stroke of halftime before Eren Aydin scored at the hour mark to put his team ahead.

Tayyip Talha Sanuc then scored a third to take the game beyond reach but Patient Wassou netted five minutes later although he couldn’t inspire his team to a draw.

The defeat is a huge blow to the team’s chances of reaching the quarter-final of the 8-nation football tournament. Algeria’s 1-1 stalemate over Senegal in the other group game staged today means the Under-23 Lions can no longer qualify even if they win their last game. 

Group A leaders Turkey on 6pts and runner-up Algeria on 4pts have both secured their spot to the knockout stage unbeaten and with a game to spare.   

Cameroon lost their opening group A fixture to Algeria (0-3) by forfeiture due to their absence. Players of the U-23 selection were stuck in the country’s capital Yaoundé with several athletes on the day of their encounter.

They will face Senegal in their final group fixture on August 12, 2022.  This year’s Islamic Solidarity Games is taking place in Konya, Turkey and will run until August 18, 2022. The event is held every four years with the aim to strengthen Islamic camaraderie and reinforce the values of Islam primarily to the youth.

Team Cameroon is among the 55 participating nations at the event. 120 athletes are representing the Central African nation in 13 disciplines.

 IYA Ibrahima ( intern)