Goals either side of half-time by Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane tookCameroonthroughtotheAfricaCup of Nationsquarter-finals atSouthAfrica's expense on Sunday as the Indomitable Lions edged theirlast-16 clash 2-1.
Tchamadeu opened the scoring in the 34th minute at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat and teenage Bayer Leverkusen forward Kofane headed in the crucial second goal two minutes after half-time.
A late rally fromSouthAfricasaw Evidence Makgopa pull one back, but it isCameroonwho go through, and the five-time champions now play hosts Morocco in a heavyweight quarter-final on Friday.
They can go into that match in relaxed mood, knowing all thepressure is on Moroccoas they looktowin a firstAFCONtitle in 50 years in front of their home support.
"I wanttosavour this victory first of all. The game against Morocco is still a long way away," saidCamerooncoach David Pagou.
"The lads are celebrating just now. We suffered today even though we won, and I think we all need a rest."
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ForCameroon, reaching thelasteightmeans theirAFCONis already a success after a chaotic build-up in which football federation president and Indomitable Lions legend Samuel Eto'o sacked coach Marc Brys, replacing him with Pagou.
The new coach got the better ofSouthAfrica's Hugo Broos, who had promisedtoshow no mercytoCameroonnine years after leading themtotheirlastcontinental crown at the Cup of Nations in Gabon.
There will be major disappointment for Bafana Bafana, who finished third at thelastAFCONtwo years ago, but they can console themselves by turning their attentions towards the upcoming World Cup.
"Everyone is very disappointed and sad that we are eliminated today," said Broos.
"We had three open chances in the first half an hour and normally the game hastobe done then, but we paid the bill with a lucky goal (forCameroon)," he added.
"Then unfortunately very soon in the second half they get a second goal and then you know it will be very difficult."
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Eto'o in attendance
Relebohile Mofokeng squandered a golden opportunity fprSouthAfricainside seven minutes, blazing over after finding himself in on goal whenCameroondefender Che Malone failedtodeal with a simple ball forward.
Lyle Foster then had the ball in the net onlytobe denied by the offside flag, and insteadCameroonwent in front just after the half-hour mark.
When theSouthAfricandefence could only partially clear a corner, the ball felltoCarlos Baleba on the edge of the area.
He took a touch and tried a shot which was deflected into the path of Tchamadeu and the London-born full-back with Stoke City rolled home from close range.
That goal -- confirmed after a long VAR check -- was celebrated by the Cameroonian fans who made up the majority of the 14,127 crowd, with two-timeAFCONwinner as a player Eto'o among those in attendance.
SouthAfricawould have been hoping for a strong starttothe second half but insteadCameroonscored again within two minutes of the restart.
Substitute Mahamadou Nagida crossed from the left and Kofane headed in his second goal of the tournament so far.
Cameroongoalkeeper Devis Epassy then made good saves from Samukele Kabini and from a Teboho Mokoena free-kick before Makgopa turned in a low cross by fellow substitute Aubrey Modiba on 88 minutes.
That set up a grandstand finish, butCameroonnervously held on.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally published on France24
