Cameroon beat giant-killers Guinea and punishing heat on Monday to triumph in the men's football final, the concluding event of the Ninth All-Africa Games.
Striker Ene Otobong hit in the sole goal in the 51st minute as he capitalized on a defensive lapse by Guinea to dash inside the area unmarked and side-footed the ball past the hapless Guinean goalkeeper Aziz Keita Abdoul.
He squandered a chance in the 70th minute when he met a vicious and penetrating pass by teammate Roger Toindouba before the goal and sent if flying over the bar.
He then lay beside the goal writhing in agony before receiving treatment from team doctors.
As the match was played under a scorching sun, some players of both sides suffered from cramp, dehydration or exhaustion.
"It is too hot for us to play here, we are not supposed to play under this kind of weather," complained Cameroon midfielder Mendomo Enam.
"As a result, we got easily tired, and then we tended to make more fouls," he explained why some players were yellow-carded.
The much-expected game turned out boring and lackluster involving a lot of physical contacts as both sides delivered an erroneous and disjointed play.
Cameroon's attack in the first half was held at bay as the gritty Guinea fielded a doughty defence to thwart any attempts by Cameroon at their goal.
Cameroon came close in the 43rd minute when midfielder Baba Ousmaila dodged one defender and sent a lethal cross to the middle.
Forward Christian Bekamenga raced to meet the pass but he fluffed his shot and missed the goal.
Guinea, who beat Tunisia in the semi-finals, launched a late onslaught in the second half.
In the 89th minute, they won a dangerous free kick but Cameroon survived the scare after Guinea's burly central defender Mamadou Bah headed wide a pass in the area.
Source: Xinhua
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