Pagou praises Cameroon’s young Lions after sealing AFCON Round of 16 spot
Cameroon head coach David Pagou has hailed the performance and potential of his young squad after guiding the Indomitable Lions into the AFCON Round of 16 following hard fought 2-1 victory over Mozambique.
Speaking to beIN Sports, Pagou admitted his side could have wrapped up the match earlier but stressed that qualification was the ultimate objective.
“Our goal was to win the match and we could have scored more goals,” Pagou said. “We created many chances but unfortunately, we lacked concentration in the final touch.”
Youth at the Heart of Cameroon’s AFCON project
Pagou was particularly keen to highlight the role of Cameroon’s emerging players insistingzthey represent the future of the national team.
“In the end, we qualified for the Round of 16 and that’s the most important thing,” he added. “The young players are the future of Cameroonian football. They have great quality and a lot of potential.”
The Cameroonian coach emphasized the need for patience and continuity pledging ongoing support as the players adapt to international football.
“They just need to adapt quickly to the national team so they can give their best. We will continue to support and guide them — that is our objective at this stage.”
Cameroon were forced to dig deep in Agadir after falling behind early when Geny Catamo struck stunning long-range goal for Mozambique.
The Indomitable Lions responded swiftly drawing level when Nené inadvertently turned the ball into his own net after Frank Magri’s effort hit the post.
The decisive moment arrived in second half, as 19 year old Christian Kofane unleashed spectacular strike from distance that clipped the crossbar before crossing the line.
The win secured seven point from three group matches, a strong return for a Cameroonian side that entered the tournament amid uncertainty following the late dismissal of former coach Marc Brys and the absence of several high-profile players.
Pagou Warns of “Complex” South Africa test
Looking ahead to Cameroon’s Round of 16 encounter, Pagou acknowledged the scale of the challenge posed by South Africa who finished as Group B runners-up.
“We know South Africa are strong and stubborn opponent,” he said. “They have competitive domestic league and players who know each other very well so the match will be complicated.”
Despite the warning, Pagou remains confident in his team’s approach.
“We will play to our strengths and try to make things difficult for them. The goal is to show up strongly and deliver good performance.”
The knockout clash between Cameroon & South Africa is scheduled to take place in Rabat on 4 January with place in the quarter-finals at stake.
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