Mbella Etouga gets rough Egyptian Premier League debut.

The 21-year-old, who was making his debut appearance in the Egyptian topflight following his move to the North African in September this year, failed to lift up to expectations despite having enjoyed a comfortable 60 minutes of game time.

The attacker failed to turn his club’s crumbling fate around despite glaring efforts thanks to a solid defensive wall mounted by the Cleopatra side in what looked like a tactical set-up intentionally mounted to completely close up the teenage Cameroonian youngster.

Hell completely broke loose when Cleopatra took an early control of the game, leading 2 nil before the 40th minutes of the game following back-to-back goals from the hosts with goals at the 15th and 30th minutes.

Despite the near completely difficult first segment of the game, Mbella Etouga and mates managed a series of goal-scoring attempts with the former AS Fortuna man repeatedly frustrated by the host who increased scores to 3-nil at the 58th minute.

Big move, massive challenge

Frank Mbella Etouga joined Al Masry of Egypt in September this year after a mouthwatering deal estimated at over 20 million FCFA from Ghanaian side, Asante Kotoko, where the youngster plied his trade last season.

The forward left the 24-time Ghanaian Premier League champions after leading the team to its first-ever league crown in years. This, after coming out as the club’s most prolific attacker with 21 goals, a goal below the 2021/2022 GPL golden boot winner, Yaw Annor.

Mbella Etouga is expected to replicate similar performances with Al Masry this season and help lead the team to a historic Egyptian Premier League crown ahead of giants like record 11-time African champions, Al Ahly and Zamalek.

An unsuccessful title race will have the club’s board also placing their bet on Etouga and mates to push for a top-four finish at the end of the league campaign, an equivalent of qualification to CAF inter-club competitions including the CAF Champions League and or the CAF Confederation.

Al Masry’s management also harbour similar hopes for the team in the Egyptian national challenge cup where the team is chasing its first ever crown since the 1997/1998 campaign.

At the international level, Etouga is also expected to remain fully fit as one of Cameroon’s finest football prospects most especially as the country looks forward to numerous major assignments including the 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Morocco early next year. This, as the U23 event play a vital role of serving as Africa’s qualification tournament to the football event of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France.