Rabat: Goals from Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane propelled Cameroon into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a thrilling 2-1 victory over South Africa on Sunday. Tchamadeu opened the scoring in the 34th minute, and Kofane added a second shortly after halftime, securing the win for the Indomitable Lions. According to France24.com, Tchamadeu's goal came after a cleared corner fell to Carlos Baleba, whose deflected shot found Tchamadeu. The Stoke City full-back capitalized on the opportunity, putting Cameroon ahead. Kofane, a teenage forward for Bayer Leverkusen, extended the lead with a header just two minutes into the second half. Despite a late goal from South Africa's Evidence Makgopa, Cameroon held on for the victory. The win sets up a quarter-final clash against hosts Morocco, who are seeking their first AFCON title in 50 years. Cameroon coach David Pagou expressed satisfaction with the victory, emphasizing the need for rest after the challenging match. The team's journey to the quarter- finals comes after a turbulent period, with Samuel Etoo, president of the football federation, replacing former coach Marc Brys with Pagou. South Africa's coach Hugo Broos, who previously led Cameroon to a continental title, expressed disappointment over the elimination. Despite early chances, a fortunate goal for Cameroon and a second goal soon after halftime proved decisive. Broos acknowledged the difficulty of mounting a comeback after falling behind by two goals. Cameroon had a strong fan presence at Al Medina Stadium, where the match was held. The crowd included Etoo, a two-time AFCON winner as a player. South Africa had opportunities early in the match, with Relebohile Mofokeng missing a key chance, and Lyle Foster's goal was disallowed for offside. After Cameroon's second goal, goalkeeper Devis Epassy made crucial saves, helping secure the win despite Makgopa's late goal for South Africa. As Cameroon advances, South Africa turns its focus to the upcoming World Cup, aiming to regroup after the AFCON disappointment.
