Cameroon retained its All Africa Games men's soccer title by beating Guinea 1-0 on Monday in a hard-fought final.
Cameroon created most chances early in the game, but was unable to exploit its ball possession until Ene Otobong scored the only goal of the match in the 52nd minute.
Surging forward on the left, Otobong held off Guinea defender Cisse Oumar Deen to strike the ball with the outside of his foot between goalkeeper Abdelaziz Keita and the near post.
PHOTO: AFP
Otobong could have scored a second in the 70th minute when he latched on to a low cross from Ousmane Koulibaly, but he shot the ball over the bar from a meter out.
Play became scrappy later in the game, and Guinea struggled to break Cameroon's dominance in midfield. Nine players -- including five from the Cameroon side -- received yellow cards.
Guinea's only clear chance to draw level came in the 89th minute. Minka Yady Camara floated a free kick in from the left, but substitute Sekouba Kourouma's header was just wide of the post. Seconds later, Otobong had a chance to seal the match for Cameroon, but hit another shot high over the bar from close range.
Cameroon also won the men's soccer title at the last All Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2003.
Monday's match was the final sporting event of the ninth All Africa Games ahead of the closing ceremony.
The games finished with Egypt at the head of the medals table, having won 199 medals including 74 golds. Host nation Algeria was second with 204 medals overall but only 70 golds. South Africa (180-61) was third and Nigeria (159-50) fourth.
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