Nigerians in Cameroon give tips on how to beat Lions in Limbe

Cameroon’s defender Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui holds up the trophy as the team celebrates beating Egypt 2-1 to win the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations final football match between Egypt and Cameroon at the Stade de l’Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on February 5, 2017. PHOTO: ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

A Nigerian based in Cameroun, Samson Afejukwu was a regular caller in Super Falcons camp at the mountain and sea view Hotel Parliamentarian Flat in Buea, where the team played its group matches and semifinal tie during the 10th African Women’s Nations Cup, which Nigeria won last December.

Buea, a town with unpredictable weather condition, is in south-west region of Cameroon. It is about 15 kilometers drive to the 20,000 capacity Omisport Stadium in Limbe, where the Super Eagles will play their 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in September this year.

The hill-top and ocean view Omisport complex, the first international stadium build in the South West Region of Cameroun, was the venue of the Group B opener between the Super Falcons and the girls from Mali last November, where the coach Florence Omagbemi-led team triumphed 6-0.

Nigeria will host the Indomitable Lions in Uyo on August 28 before travelling to Cameroun for the return fixture on September 2. The Eagles have six points and are on top of Group B from two games ahead of the Lions, who have two points, while Zambia and Algeria have only a point to show after two matches.

Afejukwu, a football enthusiast based in Limbe, Cameroun told The Guardian in a telephone chat yesterday there was nothing to worry about the Lions.

“The Lions of Cameroun are the new African champions, but I don’t see that making any difference in the World Cup qualifiers in September,” Afejukwu said.

“They were just lucky in Gabon and I want Nigerians back home to see it from that angle. Perhaps, if the Super Eagles were in Gabon, things wouldn’t have worked out smoothly for the Lions. This region can be very cold sometime, and I want the NFF to put it into consideration when preparing the team for the return leg. As I said, the Indomitable Lions are beatable here in Limbe because it is a no man’s land,” Afejukwu said.

Another Nigerian, Emmanuel Osubida, a trader at Buea town, said that it is a long time to go till August, and he strongly believe ‘many distractions’ might crop up in the camp of the Lions that may derail their World Cup aspiration.