YAOUNDE, March 30 — Cameroon’s capital Yaounde crackled with fireworks and blared with horns as the football-crazy country qualified for World Cup in dramatic style on Tuesday night, defeating Algeria 2-1 with a stoppage-time goal at the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida to take the tie-on away goals.
Scenes of joy also erupted in the commercial hub of Douala where policemen were deployed to control the jubilating football fans.
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya congratulated the Indomitable Lions after the match as tireless fans draped in flags turned the streets into an impromptu parade of green, red, yellow, the country’s colors.
“Gratitudes to the Indomitable Lions. Congratulations on your brilliant qualification to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. You proved, once again, that impossible is not Cameroonian,” Biya tweeted.
The raucous mood spilling out on the streets marked a respite for Cameroonians who were still recovering from the pain of losing in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals which the Central African nation hosted early this year.
“We had hoped to win the trophy (Africa Cup of Nations) and it was extremely painful to lose it at home. Now we are comforted by this victory which will definitely revamp the team and importantly keep the country united. We are going to the World Cup with determination to win,” Cameroonian sports journalist, James Watat told Xinhua.
“So moved and proud of my dear and beautiful Cameroon qualification in the World Cup. Thank you to my teammates and to the wonderful supporters,” said striker Karl Toko Ekambi who scored in the fourth minute of injury time to help Cameroon book the World Cup ticket. (Xinhua)
Jubilation in Cameroon after stunning win in World Cup qualifying playoff
