Two African representatives, Ghana and Cameroon could not make it beyond the group stage of the ongoing Qatar FIFA World Cup.
While Ghana lost their final group match 0 – 2 to Uruguay, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon put up a splendid performance and outclassed Brazil 1-0, but bow out of the World Cup, as Switzerland edged Serbia 3-2.
Vincent Aboubakar netted a glorious header in added time following a brilliant assist by substitute Ngom.
The Indomitable Lions finish 3rd with 4 points, two less than second-placed Switzerland.
The Indomitable Lions are leaving Qatar but are doing so after showing the entire world how to beat the world’s first-ranked side and World Cup favourite.
Before the Cameroon-Brazil match, Uruguay handed Ghana an unwanted dose of déjà vu winning 2-0 and knocking the Black Stars out of the World Cup more than 12 years after their epic quarter-final match in South Africa.
In scenes reminiscent of that all-time great World Cup clash, Andre Ayew followed in the footsteps of Asamoah Gyan, missing a penalty that would have given Ghana a 1-0 lead.
Two first-half goals from Giorgian de Arrascaeta secured the win for Uruguay, but it wasn’t enough for a place in the round of 16, as South Korea’s shock 2-1 win over Portugal helped it edge through on goals scored.
Ghana never recovered from the sucker punch of that missed penalty and the quickfire De Arrascaeta brace, as Uruguay saw out the second half with relative comfort. News of South Korea’s winner filtered into the stadium five minutes before the end of the match, forcing Uruguay onto the offensive once again.
However, the breakthrough never came and Uruguay exited the World Cup at the group stage for the first time since 2002.
It will come as some small comfort to Ghana that Luis Suárez, the villain from its 2010 clash, was reduced to tears at full-time as Uruguay’s players lost their composure, surrounding and manhandling the officials as they walked off the pitch.
After the group stage of the competition, only two African teams, Senegal and Morocco proceed to the round of 16 while the other three teams including Ghana, Cameroon and Tunisia bid the competition goodbye.