- Ekambi scored the winning goal in 120+4 minutes
- Cameroon have now qualified for their eighth World Cup appearance
- Algeria now face a rebuild after AFCON and World Cup qualification failure
Karl Toko Ekambi scored at the death as Cameroon sealed a dramatic place in the World Cup on the away goal rule. Cameroon won 2-1 on the night with the aggregate score being 2-2 after Algeria had won 1-0 in Douala last week.
Ekambi scored in the fourth minute of added time with virtually the last kick of the game as Cameroon snatched the meat right out of Algeria’s mouth.
The North Africans had just scored an equalizer in the 118th minute through substitute Ahmed Touba and looked well on course to sealing a place at the World Cup, but Ekambi’s sucker punch drained the last ounce of strength as they saw the plane to Qatar fly right off their eyesight.
Head coach Djabel Belmadi sunk to the surface of the pitch and was inconsolable in tears as he couldn’t believe what had happened right infront of his eyes. In six minutes, his World Cup dream was swept away like a storm.
The tactician had hoped qualification to the World Cup would spark a rebuild of the side after a horrendous Africa Cup of Nations title defense campaign, but it was Rigobert Song and Cameroon who would leave the Mustapha Tchaker Stadium in Blida dancing.
It was the first time that Algeria were losing a game at the stadium since they started playing there in 2004.
Song, assisted by former Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne, were appointed just a few days to the first leg in Douala and they proved to be a right gamble, as they delicately led the Indomitable Lions to a roar away from home and a ticket to Qatar.
Coach Rigobert Song
The game had been forced to extra time after a 1-0 result in normal time, which tied the aggregate score at 1-1.
Captain Maxime Choupo Moting scored the opener for Cameroon, slamming the ball home from inside the box after keeper Rais M’Bohli dropped a corner right at his feet.
Algeria had chances to draw level and the best of them fell on Youcef Bellaili. Off a counter, Islam Silimani collected the ball and squared to Bellaili on a silver platter, but the midfielder fired wide with only the keeper to beat from 10 yards out.
With no winner in regulation time, the game had to stretch a further 30 minutes, where it turned out to be a contest between Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana and the Algerian forward line. Onana single-handedly put Cameroon in the game.
Algeria thought they had scored a vital goal when Slimani netted from a cross on the left. However, Algeria’s celebrations were cut short by the VAR, with the Algerian forward adjudged to have handled the ball as he headed the ball in.
Onana made two brilliant saves denying Bellaili’s header from close range and Youcef Attal’s thunderous strike from distance. He was also at hand to stop a curling effort from Riyad Mahrez.
He was however breached in the 118th minute when two substitutes combined, the Cameroonian defense going to sleep and allowing Touba to head home Rachid Ghezzal’s corner unmarked.
With a 1-1 score, Algeria were surely destined to qualify to Qatar with a 2-1 aggregate score, but they were heartbroken in the last minute of the game when Ekambi swept the ball home after Michael Ngadeu headed a Fai Collins cross into his direction.
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