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Langton Nyakwenda, KAMPALA, Uganda

Zimbabwe 0-0 Cameroon

ZIMBABWE refused to be bullied by five-time African champions, Cameroon and even restricted the Central West Africans to zero shots on target, in a Group J African Cup of Nations qualifier at Mandela National Stadium yesterday evening.

It was a game that the Warriors will feel they could have won, as they played more purposeful football than their illustrious opponents.

With better finishing, Zimbabwe could have scored at least three goals. The Warriors had 17 goal attempts against Cameroon’s 13 and also won more corner kicks than their opponents.

The major positive from this contest was that the Warriors kept a second clean sheet, after playing another goalless draw against Kenya on Friday.

Zimbabwe are now on two points from two matches, while Kenya, who beat Namibia 2-1 yesterday, top Group J with four points.

Cameroon have four points from their 1-0 win against Namibia in their opening game last weekend. Zimbabwe coach, Michael Nees said he was “super satisfied” with the performance although he is hoping for continuous improvement.

“It was a zero-zero of better quality, we did not sit back, our level of confidence on the ball was higher.
“We deserved a little more with better finishing. “Time will come when we will score,” said Nees.

Over 10 000 fans, mostly Ugandans who support Manchester United, packed the stadium and chanted Cameroon keeper, Andre Onana’s, name throughout the match.

One fan had a placard inscribed: “Thank you Onana for visiting Uganda, we are Manchester United fans.”

It was as if Zimbabwe were playing against the English giants. Spurred on by the crowd, Cameroon started strongly, but Zimbabwe who were inspired by skipper Marshall Munetsi, did not panic.
Instead, they took the game to the Central West Africans.

Zimbabwe created the first real chance after four minutes, when Khama Billliat dragged his effort across Onana’s goal after he was played through by Munetsi.

Douglas Mapfumo, who was the only change from the team that played Kenya, also had a good chance in the first half.
Zimbabwe also fashioned out several chances in the second stanza, which the strikers failed to convert.

“Maybe it was about fatigue, maybe it was over-excitement,” reckoned Nees.
“We worked a lot on our defence, we worked a lot on ball distribution.
“I am super satisfied with the performance because we had such short time together.
“We must also respect Cameroon, they can score anytime.”

Zimbabwe are yet to concede in 180 minutes of action under the 59-year-old German coach.
What was supposed to be an Onana show turned out to be a Zimbabwean one as Billiat tormented the Cameroonians.

“That’s football, it was a good crowd, if a player cannot handle that pressure then you are not a player,” added Nees.

He thinks Zimbabwe can qualify but he wants to take it one step a time.
Nees made one change to the team that drew 0-0 against Kenya on Friday, bringing on Mapfumo for Tawanda Chirewa.
Cameroon, whose coach Marc Brys employed a 4-1-4-1 formation, started strongly but it was Zimbabwe who fashioned out the first real chance.

Cameroon’s Brentford striker, Bryan Mbeumo, then fluffed a chance in the 10th minute, mistiming his header from a cross by Christian Bassogog.

But the Warriors settled, with skipper Munetsi and Andy Rinomhota matching the more fancied pair of Zambo Anguissa and Carlos Baleba in the middle of the park.

Billiat, who had a free role yesterday, was always a threat for Cameroon defenders, especially the big Michael Ngadeu who resorted to fouling the diminutive star.

Billiat’s freekick flew over in the 29th minute after Walter Musona had been fouled by Ngadeu. The Cameroon centreback was duly yellow carded in the 38th minute for another offence against Billiat.

Mapfumo, who until then had been quiet, miscued a cross from the left by an impressive Jordan Zemura. Zimbabwe’s first shot on target came in the 45th minute, when Zemura’s deflected shot was saved by Onana.

Musona then tested Onana from long range soon after the restart before Mapfumo’s shot from inside the box went just wide after he was fed by Billiat in 55th minute.

A rampaging Billiat then drew a fine save from Onana in the 62nd minute. Brys made four substitutions in the 68th minute.
Still, the Warriors remained resolute, with Billiat firing over, off a clever flick by Mapfumo.
And it was Cameroon who nearly threw the sucker punch, when veteran striker, Vincent Aboubakar, shot wide from close range

TEAMS

Zimbabwe: W. Arubi, G. Murwira, M. Munetsi, K. Billiat, W. Musona (T. Chirewa 86), M. Garananga, A. Rinomhota, G. Takwara, D. Mapfumo (T. Hadebe 90 + 4), J. Zemura, P. Dube (O. Chirinda 78)

Cameroon: A. Onana, C. Wooh, M. Ngadeu, T. Nouhou (G. Kilama 68), J. Tchatchoua, C. Baleba, Z. Anguissa (P. Kunde 68), M. Hongla (Y. Nemours 68), C. Bassogog (F. Magri 68), B. Mbeumo, V. Aboubakar