Tempers flare as Cameroon hang on

Mbami's penalty kept Cameroon in pole position

Cameroon 2-2 South Africa
By Durosimi Thomas in Addis Ababa

A late penalty saved Cameroon from defeat in their second Group A match in the Under-20 Cup of Nations after a brave comeback from South Africa.

The game degenerated into an ill-tempered affair as South Africa showed the robust Cameroonians they were ready to battle back from an opening match defeat.

However, Olympic gold medal-winning star Modeste Mbami kept his nerve to convert a vital spot-kick into the roof of the net, and take Cameroon to the verge of the semi-finals without having impressed in either of their two games.

After the match players from the two sides exchanged blows and Ateba Bilayi of Cameroon was sent off for an off-the-ball incident in the last minute of play.

Brilliant teamwork

The young South Africans had come from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the 74th minute through Lesley Manyathela from the penalty spot after he was brought down.

It was Manyathela who had previously equalised for South Africa in the 19th minute from a close-range effort following brilliant teamwork.

Cameroon took the lead through Joel Tchami after nine minutes but were then pegged back for much of the game.

However, they now have four points from two games, while South Africa have a mountain to climb with only one point.