Intimidation as Al Ahly defeat Cotonsport

  1. Posted on Monday 3 November 2008 - 10:15
    Walter
    Image of Walter
    Walter Wilson Nana, AfricaNews reporter in Buea, Cameroon
    Cotonport lost to Al Ahly 0-2 in the first leg finals of the MTN CAF Champions league. Despite Al Ahly's domination of the match, the Egyptians had intimidated and caused Cotonsport psychologically. Cotonsport put up a spirited game, as they played an experienced side in front of 70,000 supporters.
    Al Ahly
    Cotonsport players and officials were greeted with intimidation as they met a hostile reception at the Cairo International Airport. The Cameroonian delegation had to pay $50 per person to be released from their plane. A representative of Al Ahly claimed they could not support extra charges from the visitors and said the Cameroonian delegation should have boarded a commercial flight.

    Though the situation was attributed to lack of communication within Al Ahly, Cotonsport and the Cameroonian embassy in Egypt, a Cameroonian student in Egypt said that there was a strong possibility it was a ploy to demoralise the players. Testimonies from Cameroonians in Cairo, have it that matches there are won outside the stadium.

    In a well crafted plan to destabilise the players of Cotonsport, the management of Al Ahly allowed the visitors to train at the Cairo International Stadium which was not marked. Coach, Alain Oumbleon of Cotonsport will not hide his disappointment as he complained bitterly to the representatives of Al Ahly.

    Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Augustin Thierry Edjoa, who arrived in Cairo on Saturday addressed the players and urged them to be strong in the face of intimidation. Ahead of the game he intimated that Cotonsport would win by 1-0.

    There was a strong mobilisation of Cameroonians in Egypt, looking at the initial 1000 tickets they requested for. The tickets were said to be sold at 100 Egyptian pounds, the equivalent of about FCFA 85,000. However, the expected 1000 tickets were subsequently scaled down to 300.

    However, Cotonsport is now determined more than ever to beat Al Ahly in Garoua on Sunday, November 16 by scoring three goals without conceiving any. Since Cotonsport has a record of winning its matches at home, fans are still upbeat that Cotonsport could turn the tides and lift the trophy for the first time at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.

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