The Lions began the game in Yaoundé with the apparent hope of achieving two things; a precious victory and the love of their fans, something that has been absent as a result of the hitherto dwindling fortunes of the squad.

The action-packed dual African Nations Cup/World Cup qualifying determinant was an opportunity for the Lions to once more prove that they are the kings. But both sides gambled at the first few minutes of the debacle leaving spectators with the impression that their play style was drab and heavy.

However, it didn’t take long for the Lions to get out of slumber and mesmerised the Panthers with a play style that was both cunning and forceful enough to douse the dogged determination of the Gabonese team.

The hostilities mounted by the Lions eventually paid off at the 23rd minute when Achille Webo was heavily brought down by a Gabonese defence man at the left flank a few metres away from the 18-metre box, giving rise to a free kick.

The free kick, which was meticulously executed by Geremi Fotso Njitap, was headed by Song towards the goal line before Makoun intercepted and slotted it for the first goal.

The Lions will roar again at the 63rd minute through a pass that was generated by the most acclaimed player of the day, 10-shirted Achille Emana, who, after successfully dismissing three Gabonese players mid-field, swiftly combined the move with Webo who from the right flank served a beautiful one that tricked skipper Didier Ovono Ebang. The oncoming Eto’o then stretched-dived and headed the ball into the back of the net for the second goal.

However, the performance of the Lions plummeted in the second segment, with Gabon reducing score on 89 minutes through Daniel Cousin of English Premiership club, Hull City.

The success story of the Lions was achieved on the back of a solid team effort, but there is no denying that once again, Samuel Eto’o and Achille Emana epitomised brilliance.

The victory in Yaoundé enabled the Lions to leap-frog group leaders Gabon. With the Wednesday, September 9 success, Cameroon are, for the time being, favourites to qualify from Group A with 7 points in the kitty, one adrift of Gabon.

From this latest score, Cameroon now tops Group A with seven points, followed by Gabon with six, Togo with four and Morocco, three.

After four years of frustration, missing out at the 2006 World Cup jamboree in Germany, the Lions are now upbeat to qualify for their 6th World Cup. The ecstatic scenes in Yaoundé were nothing compared to those across the country.

Taxi drivers were rare in the streets of Buea when the match was being won. The vital win was accompanied by drumming, dancing and binge drinking as passionate and enthusiastic fans went wild with celebrations. That party atmosphere had begun with the comforting knowledge that Morocco grabbed a last gasp goal to pin down Togo in Lome, Sunday, September 6.

For many days to come, the victory of the Lions is very likely going to dominate discussion in this football crazy nation.

Prior to the Wednesday showdown, Eto’o told reporters Tuesday, in a press briefing in Yaoundé that there is serenity in the squad.

“We need supporters, not spectators, to improve on our performance,” he said.

However, the coach of the Lions, Paul Marie Le Guen has insisted that it is not yet time to celebrate, since there are two more hurdles ahead.

Cameroon’s next game will be on October 10, 2009 in Yaoundé against the Sparrow Hawks of Togo. The Lions will play their last Group A game in November against the Atlas Lions of Morocco in Rabat.