China ends Africa’s dream in Canada, as Cameroun falls

A lone strike by China’s Wang Shanshan was all they needed to eliminate Africa’s only surviving team, Lioness of Cameroun, in the on-going FIFA Women’s World Cup, on Saturday night.

Cameroun had given Africa a ray of hope in the championship, after Nigeria’s Super Falcons and their Ivoirian counterparts were sent packing from Canada at the group stage.

Shanshan’s first half goal put China into the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup. It is China’s sixth time reaching the quarterfinals after failing to qualify for the 2011 edition of the World Cup held in Germany.
 
China next play the United States or Colombia for a place in the semi-finals. China coach Hao Wei had a touchline ban and was forced to watch Saturday’s game from the stands in Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium.
 
But his side closed down the game early when Wang Shanshan got the opener after 12 minutes, when she picked up pass from Li Dongna who did well to control a Wang Lisi corner.
 
Despite a spirited challenge by Cameroun, who are ranked 53rd, the Chinese, ranked 16th held on to make it through to the last eight.
 
It was her second goal of the tournament for the 25-year-old Wang, who missed a golden chance for a second as she went wide on 60 minutes when alone on front of goal. .
 
The Camerounians have themselves to blame for the defeat. Substitute Henriette Akaba missed a chance to level for the Lioness three minutes from time but fired wide.
 
The team’s assistant coach, former captain, Bernadette Anong, told The Guardian that it was sad seeing the team bowing out in the round of 16, despite playing so well against China. But she quickly added that they were not disgraced in the World Cup despite appearing for the first time. Some players and officials of the Lioness wept openly as they walked out from the stadium on Saturday night.