Onana Goalkeeper Blunders Make Cameroon Fall, Senegal To 16 Big Africa Cup Of Nations

Senegal celebrates a goal against Cameroon. Victory 3-1 brings Senegal to the last 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. (X/@CAF_Online)

Senegal memastikan lolos ke 16 besar Piala Afrika. Senegal merebut tiket ke babak knokcout setelah menang 3-1 atas Cameroon di pertandingan Grup C di Stadion Charles Konan Banny, Yamoussoukro, Sabtu, 20 Januari dini hari WIB. Goalkeeper Andre Onana lagi-lagi membuat blunder yang berujung kekalahan Cameroon.

Defending champions Senegal won their second win in the group stage which ensured they qualified for the next round. The result against Cameroon earned Senegal six points.

With one more game remaining, Senegal's points could no longer be pursued by Cameroon, who is ranked third. Cameroon itself has only pocketed one point after a 1-1 draw against Guinea.

Cameroon is in a difficult position as Guinea managed to beat Gambia 1-0. This victory gave Guinea four points and second place. Guinea's certainty of qualifying and accompanying Senegal was determined in the last match.

They just need a draw against Senegal to get rid of Cameroon. On the other hand, Cameroon must work hard to win the game against Gambia. If they win, the Indomitable Lions will still have to wait for the results of Guinea's matches.

In the big match against Senegal, Cameroonian coach Rigobert Song gambling by fielding goalkeeper Andre Onana who joined late.

Yes, Onana was allowed to play Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League match. This is what makes Onana absent in the first match against Guinea.

But when he returned to standing under Cameroon's bar, Onana failed to answer Song's trust. His goal was not only conceded three times.

Onana also made mistakes as she usually did at MU. Not only at the club but also in the national team, Onana made mistakes that led to goals.

Senegalese's first goal scored by Ismaila Sarr was inseparable from Onana's blunder who wanted to punch the ball from a corner. But Onana's hands did not reach the ball when he jumped to punch him.

The ball fell at the feet of Senegal midfielder Pape Sarr and was then awarded to Sarr. The Marseille forward then fired a shot that had hit Cameroon's body which caused the ball to change direction slightly and slide to the left side of the net.

Onana was also dead. Saar's goal came in the 16. In the next minute there were no additional goals. The 1-0 score for Senegal lasted until the end of the first half.

In the second half, the game was tight and fierce. Cameroon tries to rise to suppress Senegal's defense. However, Lions de la Teranga refused to give up. Motivated by striker Sadio Mane, the defending champion remains slick and balances Cameroon's game.

The match got hotter when it entered the second half. Senegal managed to increase the lead after Habibou Diallo completed a cross from Ismaila Sarr to score in the 71st minute.

In a 2-0 position, Cameroon never gave up. Song's troops played openly and tried to score.

Their efforts were not in vain. In the 83rd minute, defender Jean-Charles Castelletto, who went up to attack, managed to reduce the lag after beating goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The goal immediately increased the adrenaline of Cameroon's players. They almost equalized the score to 2-2 if Georges-Kevin Nkoudou's header did not widen. Even though the goal was empty, Mendy left it.

The failure slightly lowered the morale of Cameroon's players. As a result, Onana's goal conceded again in injury time. Mane, the Senegal star, recorded Cameroon's resistance by scoring goals in the 90+5 minute. The 3-1 score for Senegal closed the match.