This Cameroon isn’t any indomitable lions of 1990, and even the presence of the unique lion – Maradona’s nemesis Roger Milla – within the stands, couldn’t soften this Swiss edifice on the Al Janoub Stadium.
Rigobert Song’s workforce performed with the toothless grin of a kid or an octogenarian and there was no roaring thunder of the correctly ferocity of Mufasa or the youthful menace of Simba.
These journeymen of twin passports – rigorously curated by Cameroon FA boss Samuel Eto’o – nonetheless had an early snarl of the wild however had been quickly tamed.
The one man Eto’o couldn’t persuade, Breel Embolo, taking part in for Switzerland, harm the land of his delivery, scoring the one purpose on this 1-0 Swiss win.
Switzerland scored with its first shot on course, instantly after restart of play within the second-half, with skipper Granit Xhaka switching play from proper to left to Xherdan Shaqiri with a fast contact within the center from Remo Freuler.
The Alpine Messi’s in the reduction of contained in the field noticed no urgency from the defence, and Embolo, who referred to as himself the ‘No 1 of Cameroon’ forward of the match, reluctantly booted within the purpose and there was no celebration to observe as a respect to the forefathers.
Eric Choupo-Moting, fuelled by rage, went on a solo mission within the 56th minute, dancing previous a number of defenders however the last angle was manner too slim to trigger Yaan Sommer any issues or change the course of the sport.
Ruben Vargas virtually added Switzerland’s second when he was left with house to uncork a fizzing proper footer from contained in the field, forcing goalkeeper Andre Onana right into a barely awkward save within the 68th minute.
The goalkeeper, although, did properly to maintain out one in all Xhaka’s thunderous efforts because the clocked ticked in direction of the top and a rasping left-footer from Haris Seferovic was additionally in some way saved out by lunging dives from the tiring defence.
The missed possibilities of the half earlier than had been haunted reminiscences of a greater previous because the Cameroonians’ roar, alas, trailed right into a whimper.