The first leg matches of the second round qualification of the UEFA Europa League were played yesterday with some current and potential Indomitable Lions involved.
AEK Larnaca vs Gent (1-1)
Cypriot club AEK Larnaca welcomed Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui and Gent at their AEK Arena.
Ngadeu Ngadjui and his teammates assured the essentials, they scored an away goal and avoided defeat. The Cameroon defender played the entire game.
Sparta Prague vs Trabzonspor (2-2)
There was a 2-2 draw in the Czech Republic between George Constant Mandjeck’s Sparta Prague and Trabzonspor from Turkey. The Cameroon midfielder was not on the team sheet for Sparta Prague.
They will have to dig deep in the return leg next Thursday if they intend to qualify for the next round.
FC Sheriff Tiraspol vs AIK (1-2)
Cameroon forward Robert Ndip Tambe and his Moldovan club FC Sheriff hugely compromised their chances of qualification with a 1-2 loss at home to visiting AIK.
The Cameroon forward played the entire game and was booked at the 75th minute.
Mariupol vs AZ Alkmaar (0-0)
Cameroon defender Joyskim Dawa Tchakonte was introduced at the 76th minute for Sergiy Gurbanov in Mariupol’s 0-0 draw against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
They succeeded not to concede an away goal but there is still all to do in the return leg next week.
Royal Antwerp vs Viktoria Plzen (1-0)
Royal Antwerp of Cameroon’s Didier Lamkel Ze and Martin Hongla did the essential at the Koning Boudewijnstadion with a 1-0 win over Viktoria Plzen. They avoided conceding an way goal and made sure of a home win.
Hongla was not part of the team but Lamkel Ze was brought in at the 61st minute for Geoffry Hairemans.
FK Sarajevo vs BATE Borisov (1-2)
25 year old Cameroon forward Hervaine Ferdin Moukam Mekontso was the hero for BATE Borisov in their 1-2 away win against SK Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Manjo born Cameroon forward setup his side’s first goal with an assist to Dmitry Baga at the 19th minute before giving his team a two goal cushion at the 71st minute with a calmly converted penalty.
The home side pulled a goal back at the 79th minute, but Moukam and BATE have a huge advantage going into the return leg.
Moukam made way at the 73rd minute as he left his place for Jasse Tuomenin.
FC Vaduz vs Eintracht Frankfurt (0-5)
Eintracht Frankfurt are almost certain to be in the next round of the Europa League after an emphatic 0-5 win away to FC Vaduz.
The competition’s semi-finalists in the last edition made light work of their opponents with their Cameroon defender Evans Ndicka Obitte watching from the bench for the entire game.
Torino vs Shahktyor Soligorsk (5-0)
Nicolas Nkoulou and Torino made sure they are a leg into the next round before the return leg next week in Belarus against Shahktyor Soligorsk of 19 year old Cameroon midfielder Max Afrid Ebong Ngome.
Torino’s 5-0 home win leaves Shahktyor with a mountain to climb in the return leg.
Nkoulou played for 85 minutes at the center of their traditional back three before making way for Wilfried Singo.
Max Ebong played the entire game for the Belarusian team and was booked at the 25th minute.
Of the 10 Cameroonian players on the books of teams involved in this round of qualification of the UEFA Europa League, only Martin Hongla of Royal Antwerp and George Mandjeck of Sparta Prague were not on the team sheets of their teams, while Evans Ndicka was the only one who was on his team’s team sheet who did not play.
Hervaine Ferdin Moukam Mekontso was the only one on target.
Muambo Edward.
