M’Boma’s hat-trick settles Cameroon – Zimbabwe thriller
Patrick M’Boma’s became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations as Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions roared back from a goal down to beat Zimbabwe 5-3 in a thrilling Africa Cup of Nations tie in Sfax.
Cameroon were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in their Group C opener and the holders’ campaign went from bad to worse with Zimbabwe skipper Peter Ndlovu’s eighth minute header
But M’Boma’ promptly hit two and made another for midfielder Modeste M’Bami to put Cameroon firmly in the driving seat, despite Ndlovu scoring from the penalty spot two minutes after the restart.
M’Boma then completed his hat – trick and M’Bami added his second of the afternoon in the space of two minutes as the Lions ripped Zimbabwe’s defence to shreds. Esron Nyandoro scored a late third consolation goal for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe could not be faulted for effort in midfield, while Ndlovu and Joel Luphahla were constant menace up front but they were outgunned by a super strike force.
Cameroon had just fired a warning shot, with Timothee Atouba heading against the bar, when their defence was caught out of position by Wilfred Mugey’s curling cross and Ndlovu’s powerful header past stranded keeper Idriss Kameni.
Cameroon soon recovered their poise, with Geremi’s flighted passes and Samuel Eto’o’s dribbling runs probing a well organised Zimbabwean defence.
But the pressure from the Lions finally paid off in the 31st minute when a Zimbabwean clearance reached Eric Djemba-Djemba. The Manchester United midfielder hooked it back into the area and M’Boma swiveled round to fire home.
Ndlovu then nearly grabbed a second with a sizzling shot which flashed narrowly wide of Kameni’s post.
But the contest dramatically swung Cameroon’s way with two goals in the space of five minutes.
M’Bami worked a neat one – two with M’Boma and comfortably rifled past keeper Energy Murambadoro in the 39th minute.
M’Boma added his second in the 44th minute, when midfielder Jean Makoun headed a corner back across the face of goal and the Cameroon striker stuck out a leg to prod it home.
Zimbabwe came out fighting after the break and pulled one back almost immediately with Ndlovu’s spot – kick after Cameroon skipper Rigobert Song brought down the lively Luphahla.
But Cameroon had not finished with the luckless Zimbabweans, delivering another one – two flourish in the space of two minutes.
M’Boma brought up his hat – trick from point blank range, driving home Atouba’s cross from the left in the 65th minute and M’Bami scored his superb second with a 20 – metre shot which pinged in off the cross bar in the 67th minute.
M’Boma soon left the field to an ovation from the Sfax crowd, while strike partner Eto’o, for whom little or nothing went right, summed up his afternoon by hitting the bar with a tight angled shot.
Zimbabwe had one final word, when Nyandoro curled home a delight shot from well outside the area in the 89th minute.
Match Fact: At the age of 33 years, 2 months, 15 days, Patrick M’Boma became the oldest player to score a hat-trick at the Africa Cup of Nations finals
Other AFCON fixtures on 29 January
2000 Group: Gabon 1- 3 Algeria
2000Group: Zambia 1-1 Burkina Faso
2000 Group: Tunisia 0-0 Morocco
2002 Group: Cameroon 3-0 Togo
2002 Group: DR Congo 3-1 Ivory Coast
2004 Group: Algeria 2-1 Egypt
2006 Group: Angola 3-2 Togo
2006 Group: Cameroon 2-0 DR Congo
2008 Group: Ivory Coast 3-0 Mali
2008 Group: Nigeria 2-0 Benin
2012 Group: Equatorial Guinea 0 -1 Zambia
2012 Group: Libya 2-1 Senegal
2013 Group: Burkina Faso 0-0 Zambia
2013 Group: Nigeria 2-0 Ethiopia
2017 Quarter -finals: DR Congo 1-2 Ghana
2017 Quater-finals: Egypt 1-0 Morocco
By: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
