Ghana U17 vs Cameroon U17 second leg II
"Well, it looks like you'll have plenty of time to figure out how to bring him to Portugal," Rui said, leaning back in his seat. "At this rate, his team won't even qualify for the main tournament."
Gonçalo didn't take his eyes off the pitch. "Maybe. But the game isn't over yet," he said, his tone measured. "I want to see what he does in a difficult situation. It's easy to shine when everything is going well, but if he can step up when his team is struggling, that'll tell me a lot more about his potential."
Rui nodded. "Yeah, the best players always stand out when their team is struggling."
"We'll see," Gonçalo added. "It's still early. The game has just started
...
...
Ganago restarted the game with a short pass to Ngoah, positioned just outside the center circle. He took a few controlled steps forward, glancing at his options before quickly sending a pass toward Namekong on the right flank. However, the Ghanaian left winger pressed high and contested the ball, forcing Namekong to head it backward into his own half, where Njike was waiting.
Njike, positioned near the middle of Cameroon's half, played it safe, shifting the ball to Hongla, who had dropped back to offer support. Turning toward the Ghanaian half, Hongla surveyed the field but decided to switch play, delivering a sharp pass across to Djoubairou, who stood at the center circle.
Sensing the pressure building, Djoubairou immediately accelerated into Ghana's half, breaking through the midfield line. A Ghanaian midfielder was tight on his back, another shadowed him from the right, and a third blocked his path ahead. Rather than risking a turnover, he swiftly played the ball to Ngoah, positioned just outside the penalty box on the left side.
As the pass reached Ngoah's feet, a Ghanaian center-back rushed forward aggressively to challenge him. With no time to turn, Ngoah instinctively shielded the ball, scanning his surroundings. That's when he saw Marcel making a sharp diagonal run from the left, slipping past the Ghanaian right-back at the edge of the box.
Without hesitation, Ngoah played a perfectly weighted pass into space.
Marcel timed his run to perfection. With a single touch, he burst into the box, cutting in toward the center. The Ghanaian center-back scrambled to recover, but Marcel was already in stride. Arriving at the penalty spot, he didn't hesitate—his left foot met the ball with precision, striking it with force toward the right side of the net.
The Ghanaian keeper reacted, but the shot was too fast, too clinical. The ball buried itself into the bottom corner.
GOAL!
The commentator's voice erupted over the speakers:
"Gooooooooal! Marcel Ndonga strikes again! A stunning finish in the 15th minute, and Cameroon pulls one back!"
"What a response from the Baby Lions! Just moments after conceding, they roar back into the game with a perfectly executed attack!"
"And Marcel—yet again decisive for Cameroon! That's his third goal in just his second match with the team. This kid is something special!"
"We've just checked the archives, and with that goal, Marcel Ndonga becomes the all-time leading scorer for Cameroon's U17 team, surpassing Serge N'Gal's record from the 2003 U17 World Cup!"
"It speaks volumes about how tough it's been for strikers in this team historically—and this boy is only 14! Incredible!"
"A small milestone for the young star, but one that hints at a bright future. Could we be witnessing the rise of a player who will do the same with the senior team one day?"
The stadium atmosphere shifted. The Ghanaian fans, who had been celebrating moments ago, fell silent. Meanwhile, the Cameroonian bench erupted in cheers.
Marcel, beaming with determination, sprinted toward the corner flag, raising three fingers to the sky—one for each of his goals. His teammates swarmed him, patting his head, shaking his shoulders. Coach Atangana pumped his fist on the touchline.
The score now stood at 2-1 for Ghana on the night, but 4-3 on aggregate for Cameroon.
Marcel had brought the Baby Lions back to life.
...
"That was a smart run behind the defense to ask for the ball—and this time, he finished it perfectly," Rui said, nodding in approval as he watched Marcel celebrate.
"Yeah, great movement," Gonçalo agreed. "And more importantly, this goal just reanimated his team. You can feel the shift in energy."
Rui kept his eyes on the field, adjusting the camera slightly. "But now that I'm paying closer attention… that number 16, the midfielder who set up Marcel's goal—he's good. I overlooked him earlier, but he's controlling the tempo of their midfield. Most of their plays are running through him."
Gonçalo glanced at his notes before looking back at the pitch. "You're right. He's composed under pressure, his passing is sharp, and he's constantly scanning for options. I also like his defensive work—he doesn't just sit back, he's active in regaining possession."
"And don't forget their center-back, number 4," Rui added. "He's winning key duels, reading the game well. They have potential, but apart from Marcel, it's too early to make any strong conclusions. If they qualify for the main tournament, we'll have a much clearer picture."
Gonçalo nodded, adjusting his camera lens. "Yeah, let's keep recording everything. These clips will be invaluable when we present Marcel as a future top player with elite potential."
...
Ghana restarted the game with intensity, moving the ball quickly through a crisp series of passes from their defensive line. The ball was played into midfield before being switched to the left wing, where the Ghanaian winger wasted no time—threading a perfect first-time pass to his teammate, who had made a bursting run into the attacking third.
The Ghanaian midfielder sprinted forward, unchallenged, slicing through the space ahead of him.
"Where is the defense? He's completely unmarked!" the commentator shouted.
The Cameroonian backline looked caught out, and with no immediate pressure, the Ghanaian midfielder continued his run into the box, advancing toward the six-yard area on the left.
"Could this be Ghana's equalizer?!"
Jean rushed to recover, running parallel to the Ghanaian attacker, but just as he positioned himself to challenge, the Ghanaian midfielder cut the ball back—a precise pass into the danger zone, right at the top of the six-yard box, where the striker was waiting.
A shot!
But Toukam throws himself in with a last-second slide, blocking the ball with his outstretched leg!
The ball deflected off Toukam's foot, spinning out toward the penalty arc, where Ngoah was first to react, intercepting before any Ghanaian could pounce.
Ngoah quickly turned, driving forward along the edge of the box toward the left flank. The Ghanaian right winger charged at him, but with a sharp push of the ball and a sudden burst of acceleration, Ngoah skipped past him effortlessly!
The counter was on.
Still sprinting near the touchline, Ngoah reached the halfway line and, under pressure, spotted Marcel making himself available on the left wing. He sent the ball forward, but almost immediately, two Ghanaian defenders collapsed on Marcel—both the right winger and the right back pressing him aggressively.
Marcel, sensing the trap, quickly redirected the ball toward Kalamou, who had made a supporting run into midfield.
Kalamou advanced, pushing the ball forward with confidence, but as he approached the final third, two Ghanaian midfielders closed in, trapping him between them. He tried to slip through but lost control, and before he could react, the ball was cleared out for a throw-in.
...
In the 28th minute, Cameroon earned a throw-in deep in Ghana's half. Kalamou took the ball and quickly sent it to Ngoah, who returned it immediately.
Pinned near the edge of the touchline, Kalamou took a small, sharp touch forward, escaping the Ghanaian right-back's pressure and darting toward the corner flag. As a defender lunged toward him, he swung his foot around the ball—sending a cross into the box in urgency before tumbling to the ground.
The ball curled into the penalty area, floating toward the center just outside the six-yard box.
Ganago and a Ghanaian center-back were locked in a fierce battle for positioning, shoulders pressing, arms jostling—both waiting for the ball to drop.
Ganago took a clever step back, shifting toward the right side of the six-yard box, shaking off the defender's pressure. Then, with perfect timing, he leapt into the air and met the ball with a powerful header—redirecting it toward goal!
"Kalamou is near the corner flag... he crosses!" the commentator called.
"Ganago is in the box, battling for position... he times his jump... he gets his head to it!"
The ball flew past the diving Ghanaian keeper, nestling into the back of the net!
"AND IT'S IN! GOOOOOOAL!!!"
The stadium erupted as Ganago ran toward the corner flag, arms spread wide in celebration.
"Ganago scores for Cameroon! His first goal for the Baby Lions!"
The comeback was complete.
"From 2-0 down to 2-2 before we even hit the 30-minute mark!" the commentator shouted.
"A lion is a lion, even when it's still a cub! They were asleep at the start, but now they've roared back, reclaiming their two-goal lead on aggregate!"
"It's 2-2 in the match, but 5-3 on aggregate for Cameroon! It's as if the first 30 minutes never happened!"
The match was turning into a classic.
"This is an absolutely thrilling game—four goals in under 30 minutes! And with the way both teams are attacking, I have a feeling we're far from done!"
...
The match resumed with intensity, and barely a minute after Ghana restarted play, they earned a dangerous free kick just outside the penalty arc, slightly to the left.
The Ghanaian taker stepped up, eyeing the goal. With a short run-up, he struck the ball cleanly toward the top right corner…
"Ghana with a free kick in a dangerous position…" the commentator called.
The ball soared over the wall, heading for the top corner—but just as it was about to clear the defenders, Kalamou leaped high, twisting his body midair, and got his head to it!
"Deflected by the wall—!"
The ball's direction changed sharply, spinning toward the right side of the six-yard box. A split-second opportunity.
The Ghanaian right winger reacted instantly, darting forward with urgency. He threw himself into a desperate sliding attempt, stretching every muscle to reach the ball before it rolled out of play.
"It's dropping dangerously—Ghana's right winger is sliding in!"
His boot made contact—but not cleanly. The ball skidded past him, rolling just wide of the post before going out of play.
"OH, SO CLOSE! What a huge chance for Ghana!"
The right winger slammed the ground in frustration, knowing how close he had been.
"He saw it late, slid in, but the ball was just too fast! What a let-off for Cameroon!"
...
The match had been electric from the opening whistle, with Cameroon dominating much of the play, but as we approach the 40th minute, the score remains 2-2.
"This game has been relentless, both sides pushing forward at every opportunity! But will we see another breakthrough before halftime?"
The Ghanaian goalkeeper steps back, eyes scanning the pitch, before launching a goal kick toward the right flank of Cameroon's half.
"Ghana restarts with a long goal kick toward the right side… Njike is there!"
Njike times his jump perfectly, rising above his marker to nod the ball down toward Namekong near the center circle.
"Good header from Njike! Namekong collects… but look at that—he's instantly swarmed by three Ghanaian players!"
The pressure is immense, but Namekong stays calm. With a moment of brilliance, he slides a perfectly weighted through ball between the Ghanaian left-back and center-back into the path of Ganago.
"Beautiful pass! Ganago is through! Can he reach it?"
Ganago bursts forward, managing to catch up to the ball, but the Ghanaian defenders recover quickly, forcing him wide to the left edge of the penalty box. With his angle completely cut off, a shot is impossible.
Ganago turns, a defender blocking his way to goal. With no other option, he swings in a cross toward the far side of the box—but it's overhit!
"He tries to switch play—but the cross is too heavy!"
Hongla, positioned near the top of the penalty area, reacts late. He sticks out his foot, but the ball ricochets awkwardly off his leg, bouncing loose just outside the left edge of the box.
"Deflected off Hongla… oh wait, LOOK WHO'S ON IT—"
Marcel is already on the move! He sees the opening, the ball rolling into his path with a clear sight of goal!
He takes a quick touch forward, but the Ghanaian defenders charge toward him, bodies flying in to block the shot!
At the last second, Marcel fakes the strike, selling the entire defense. The defenders dive in, fully committing—but Marcel cuts inside, leaving them scrambling as they try to recover.
Now inside the penalty box, he shapes his body as if he's aiming for a curled shot toward the top right corner.
"Oh, he's going for it!"
The goalkeeper reads the motion, anticipating the finesse strike, and shifts his weight toward the right.
But Marcel had no intention of curling it.
At the last possible moment, he whips a low-driven strike toward the bottom left corner instead!
The ball slices cleanly through the air, completely wrong-footing the goalkeeper, who is already diving the wrong way!
It buries itself into the net, the crowd erupts—it's a goal!!!
"GOOOOOOOOAL!!!!"
The stadium explodes as Marcel sprints away, fists clenched in celebration!
"MARVELLOUS FROM MARCEL! ANOTHER GOAL FOR CAMEROON, ANOTHER BRACE FOR HIM!"
"When his team needed him most, he steps up AGAIN! He refuses to let them lose!"
"3-2 for Cameroon in this match, and now 6-3 on aggregate! What a game this is turning out to be!"
"FIVE GOALS IN THE FIRST HALF ALONE! The Baby Lions and the Starlets are putting on a show!"
...
Marcel sprinted toward his teammates, arms outstretched, a wide grin on his face.
"GOAL!" Ngoah shouted, leaping onto Marcel in celebration.
Ganago ran over, clapping him on the back. "Well played, bro! That was a perfect shot!"
One by one, his teammates swarmed him, patting his back, grabbing his shoulders, congratulating him for the goal.
Marcel soaked it all in, still catching his breath. The energy, the euphoria—it was different.
He turned and jogged back to his position for the restart, his heart still pounding, not from exhaustion, but from the thrill of scoring.
This felt incredible.
It wasn't just about playing well—it was about changing the game. The two goals he had scored weren't just for himself; they had lifted the entire team, reviving their confidence and putting them back in control.
And yet… something felt different.
Why did it feel like every shot he took today had to go in?
It was like a switch had flipped in his mind. The hesitation, the doubts—they were gone. Every time he struck the ball, he knew exactly where it would go.
Maybe that was the key. Maybe focusing less on dribbling and more on his finishing would take him to another level.
Maybe he needed to double his efforts in shooting training.
The rest of the first half slowed down. Cameroon, now comfortable with their lead, eased off the pressure, choosing to control possession rather than push forward.
Ghana, on the other hand, looked shaken, their morale dropping after Marcel's second goal.
With neither side making any major advances, the first half came to an end.
Halftime: Ghana 2 - 3 Cameroon (3-6 on aggregate).
The players began walking off the pitch, heading toward the tunnel.
Marcel took one last glance at the scoreboard.
Forty-five minutes left.
They were almost there.
...
...
As the second half began, Ghana came out with renewed intensity, pressing high and relentlessly pushing forward.
Attack after attack, they piled the pressure on Cameroon, but the Baby Lions held firm, defending compactly and forcing their opponents into taking long-range shots.
For the most part, Ghana's attempts lacked precision—until the 52nd minute when a well-constructed build-up saw them create a dangerous opening.
The ball was worked down the right flank, where the Ghanaian right winger received it just outside the penalty area.
With a quick burst of acceleration, he pushed the ball further wide before whipping a cross toward the far post.
Jean rose high to head the ball away, but his clearance lacked distance, dropping directly to the feet of a Ghanaian midfielder lurking near the edge of the box.
Sensing an opportunity, the midfielder drove into the penalty area, shifting wide to the left to evade defenders.
Rather than taking a shot, he cleverly switched play, rolling a precise lateral pass across the box toward the right flank.
The Ghanaian right winger controlled it instantly, but the penalty area was already crowded with Cameroonian defenders, blocking any direct route to goal.
With no space to shoot, he took a slight touch forward before attempting a curled strike toward the top corner.
The ball spun through the air, the crowd holding their breath…
But it sailed inches over the crossbar!
A close call for Cameroon, but they survived the scare.
...
Ghana continued their domination, pinning Cameroon deep in their own half. The pressure finally paid off in the 60th minute.
On the touchline, a Ghanaian midfielder took a throw-in, sending the ball to another midfielder positioned on the left flank inside Cameroon's half. Without hesitation, he passed to the overlapping left-back, who deftly shifted right, escaping Djoubairou's press before surging toward the box.
Just before stepping into the area, the left-back spotted the same midfielder—who had made a late run past Njike into the box. A well-timed pass found him, and he controlled it cleanly despite immediate pressure from Hongla. Instead of panicking, the Ghanaian midfielder dropped his shoulder, faking a move before smoothly cutting outside toward the penalty arc. With Hongla on his back, he used his arm to shield the ball, took a slight touch forward, and then struck a curling shot toward the right side of the net.
Djomo reacted, diving at full stretch, but the ball curled just out of reach—goal!
"Gooooooooal!" shouted the commentator.
"Goal for Ghana, and they finally get their breakthrough after dominating the second half!"
"What a strike from the Ghanaian midfielder! He makes it 3-3 in the match and 6-4 on aggregate!"
"This match is a spectacle! Both teams are giving everything for qualification, and the fans are loving it!"
"We've been spoiled with goals today! Now, the Baby Lions must respond, or will Ghana strike again?"
...
Ghana continued their dominance after the goal, controlling possession, but this time, Cameroon was striking back with intent.
In the 65th minute, on the right side of Ghana's half, Njike advanced and sent a precise pass into midfield to Hongla. Without hesitation, Hongla switched the play to Djoubairou, who immediately threaded a pass toward Ngoah, positioned between Ghana's two center-backs at the top of the penalty arc.
Spotting an opportunity, Ngoah took a quick touch before firing a shot from distance. However, a Ghanaian defender reacted just in time, stretching out a leg to block the attempt. The deflection sent the ball bouncing awkwardly toward the goalkeeper, who rushed forward and smothered it before any Cameroonian player could react.
Minutes later, in the 69th, Kalamou attempted a pass to Marcel deep in Cameroon's half, but like a flash of lightning, Ghana's right winger darted in, intercepting the ball before it could reach its target. He immediately sent a sharp pass to his midfielder on the left, who surged forward into the penalty arc. With a quick glance up, he took his shot—only for Njike to throw himself into the path of the ball, deflecting it out for a corner.
In the 73rd minute, Marcel received the ball on the left flank, immediately faced by two Ghanaian players closing him down. He began a sequence of rapid step-overs, his feet dancing over the ball. The first defender lunged in, but Marcel smoothly shifted left along the wing, escaping his reach. The second defender anticipated his move inside, positioning himself to block the route—but Marcel, with a quick croqueta, slid past him effortlessly.
Now inside the box with space to shoot, he steadied himself but instead of taking the shot, he spotted Ngoah charging toward the penalty arc. With a well-weighted pass, he laid the ball off.
Ngoah didn't hesitate.
BAM!
His powerful strike cannoned off the crossbar, rattling the frame of the goal. As the ball dropped back into the box, the Ghanaian goalkeeper reacted first, leaping up to catch it before any rebound attempt.
The match remained a fierce battle, with both sides trading attacks in a frantic end-to-end contest. As the clock ticked toward the final minutes, Cameroon held their slim advantage, but Ghana kept pressing forward.
Then, in the 87th minute, following a Ghanaian corner…
Jean defended the Ghanaian corner, rising above everyone to head the ball away from the danger zone, sending it toward the edge of the box. Hongla and a Ghanaian midfielder battled for the loose ball, and Hongla managed to get the better of him, heading it further up the pitch toward the right side before the halfway line.
The ball rolled helplessly into an open space. There was no one around—except for Marcel, who had already started sprinting from the left, cutting across the field like a bullet.
Marcel reached the ball just before it rolled out, controlling it smoothly. But a Ghanaian center-back had recovered quickly and was already pressing him. Instead of forcing a risky dribble, Marcel played it safe, turning back and passing the ball to Djoubairou before darting back to his left wing.
Djoubairou quickly moved the ball to Bayemi, who had come on in the 77th minute to replace Namekong. Bayemi returned it to Djoubairou, who then found Marcel again, this time at the edge of the center circle.
Marcel immediately spotted Ngoah making a run in the attacking third and sent a sharp, low pass his way. Ngoah controlled it but was instantly swarmed by the Ghanaian defense, and a center-back managed to poke the ball away.
Marcel, already anticipating the situation, was right behind him. He stole the ball back in an instant and surged down the left side, accelerating into the final third.
One-on-one with the Ghanaian right-back at the edge of the box, Marcel feinted left, then quickly shifted right. The defender reacted well, poking the ball loose—but Marcel fought back, regaining possession almost immediately as the ball rolled slightly into the box. Another quick recovery, another desperate scramble.
Marcel won the duel.
Now inside the box, he quickly laid it off centrally to Ngoah at the penalty arc. A Ghanaian defender rushed to intercept, but Ngoah smartly let the ball roll through his legs, allowing it to reach Hongla behind him.
Hongla took one touch and quickly switched the play to Kalamou on the left. Kalamou, under pressure, laid it back to Djoubairou in midfield, who then sent it further back to Jean—far more advanced than usual, past the center circle in Ghana's half.
Jean drove forward with purpose. As a Ghanaian right-winger closed in, he chipped a delicate ball over his head toward Kalamou, who had positioned himself near the box.
The pass was slightly overhit.
Inside the penalty area, Marcel was waiting with his back to goal. Reacting instantly, he leapt and cushioned the ball with a controlled header back to Kalamou.
Kalamou steadied himself and sent a short pass to Ngoah at the top of the penalty arc.
Ngoah took a step forward and, with one quick motion, slid the ball through a narrow gap—straight to Marcel, positioned between the Ghanaian right-back and center-back.
Marcel didn't hesitate.
A quick touch, a firm strike. The ball raced past the goalkeeper and buried itself into the right side of the net.
Gooooooooal!!! shouted the commentator.
Hat-trick for Marcel! His second game for the Baby Lions, and already, he had written his name in history.
3-4 for Cameroon, 7-4 on aggregate! What a match! What a performance!
Marcel becomes the first player in Cameroon U17 history to score a hat-trick—another record broken!
With this goal, the match is all but decided. Marcel has delivered the final blow!
And with a talent like him, we can't wait to see what the Baby Lions will do in the African U17 Championship in February. Will Marcel continue to lead his team to greatness?
One thing is certain—this next tournament will be unmissable for the fans of youth football!