Cameroon Aims to Recover Against South Africa in U17 AFCON Clash
In a crucial Group B match at the TotalEnergies CAF U17 AFCON, Cameroon attempts to recover from a 2-1 defeat against Burkina Faso, while South Africa looks to build on their emotional 4-3 victory over Egypt. The match history favors South Africa, who won their last encounter in 2015. Both teams have significant statistics and implications tied to this game, setting the stage for an intriguing contest.
Cameroon and South Africa are set to face off in their second group match of the TotalEnergies CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. This match follows contrasting outcomes for both teams in their opening games, with Cameroon suffering a 2-1 loss to Burkina Faso and South Africa achieving a remarkable comeback victory over Egypt, ending the match 4-3.
Historically, this will be the second encounter between the two teams in the AFCON, with their last match resulting in a 3-1 victory for South Africa in 2015. That victory allowed South Africa to finish second in their group, ultimately leading them to a silver medal in the tournament.
Cameroon Facts
– Cameroon has lost its opening game in six of its nine AFCON participations, with one draw.
– Should Cameroon lose against South Africa, it will mark the fourth occurrence of consecutive opening match defeats, following similar experiences in 2009, 2015, and 2023.
– The team previously overcame an opening loss in 2003 to win the tournament, successfully rebounding after a defeat to Nigeria.
– In their history of AFCON, their performance record in second group games stands at 2 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses.
– Past victories in second group games have correlated with tournament wins, noted in 2003 and 2019.
– Their recent loss extended a winless streak in group matches, including a goal drought spanning over 524 minutes until a recent goal against Burkina Faso.
– Despite holding 69% possession against Burkina Faso, Cameroon struggled to convert that advantage into a win.
South Africa Facts
– South Africa’s dramatic 4-3 win over Egypt marked its first victory in an opening match at the finals, improving their previous record of two draws and two losses.
– This match also contributed to a tally of four goals, an achievement they previously reached against Zimbabwe in 2005.
– Their last four matches have each featured five or more goals, indicating a trend of high-scoring games.
– Amazingly, South Africa has not recorded a 0-0 draw in its 18 matches at the finals, scoring in 13 of those games.
– A win against Cameroon would signify consecutive victories in group matches for only the second time in their tournament history.
– Notably, South Africa had eight shots on target against Egypt, yielding a 50% success rate in scoring.
The upcoming match between Cameroon and South Africa presents a critical opportunity for Cameroon to recover from a disappointing opening defeat, while South Africa aims to build on their first win in AFCON history. Both teams possess significant statistics, with Cameroon striving to capitalize on their historical successes in second group games. Meanwhile, South Africa looks to maintain its high-scoring form and further its chances of advancing in the tournament. Overall, this Group B clash promises to deliver an important contest with potential implications for both teams’ tournament trajectories.
Original Source: www.cafonline.com
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