MTN Elite One: Bamboutos stuns Gazelle FA, Coton Sport closes gap to top.

The clash took place Wednesday at the Roumde Adjia Annex in Garoua, North Region. 

Bamboutos of Mbouda headed for the game with the underdog tag as many saw Gazelle FA outright favorites to dismiss the game with relative ease. 

Bamboutos FC of Mbouda, who won the Cameroon Super Cup, their first major trophy in six decades, proved naysayers wrong when they took control of the game. 

Zidane Campbell Nde silenced the home fans when he broke the deadlock 13 minutes into the game before Christian Tchinda doubled the lead eight minutes to halftime. 

Gazelle FA dug deep to secure a draw in the second half. They boosted their chances when Obasi Walter’s own goal halved the deficit but the host team could not find the much sought after equaliser. 

Yesterday’s win was the second for Bamboutos of Mbouda since the start of the season. 

It is also the first victory for Coach Anicet Mbarga Foe, who recently took charge of Bamboutos FC after coach Agbor Ernest was axed for poor results. 

Until yesterday, Bamboutos of Mbouda had not won a game in the league since their 2-0 home defeat to Aigle Royal du Moungo on December 18. They have lost four games with four draws. 

Following yesterday’s win, Bamboutos FC have moved out of the relegation dragnet. They now recorded 10 points in 10 matches. 

Bamboutos of Mbouda inflicted Gazelle FA their second defeat of the season. The defeat also ends their impressive run of eight matches without defeat. 

Gazelle remains top of the table, level on points with second place Colombe of the Dja and Lobo, who have a game in hand and could retake control of the league with a win. 

Coton Sport cuts gap to top

In an early kick-off game in the same facility, Coton Sport of Garoua thrashed defending champions, Victoria United 3-0 to close the gap to the top. 

The damage was made in the first round. The first half was meandering towards a draw when Coton Sport stole the show. 

Skipper, Felix Oukine opened the scoring on 40 minutes before Nchindo John Bosco doubled the team's advantage at the stroke of halftime. 

The former captain of Yong Sport Academy of Bamenda, YOSA, has now scored four goals and recorded two assists in four games.

Victoria United tried to respond in the second half but their efforts were frustrated by a disciplined Coton Sport of Garoua side. 

The visitors also lacked the cutting edge to convert their chances. They paid for their catalogue of misses when Coton Sport sealed the win through Harrison Djonkep. 

The win, which came barely three days after they thrashed struggling Bamboutos of Mbouda 4-1, helped Coton Sport to close the gap to the top. They have secured 19 points in 10 matches. 

Victoria United on their part suffered back-to-back defeat for the first time this season. 

Following the defeat, Victoria United FC is likely to drop from the current 5th position they currently occupy. 

The Elite One title holders have won only one of their last five games. Their last win in the championship was on January 12 when they defeated AS Fortuna 3-1.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3354 of Thursday January 30, 2025