Danny Namaso’s international break gathered pace on Thursday night, as the Auxerre forward created one Cameroon goal and scored another in a 3-1 win over Comoros at the start of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying.
The Ligue 1 news
Namaso, who has registered one goal and one assist across five Ligue 1 rounds for Auxerre this season, played a decisive role in Cameroon’s response after missing the most recent World Cup.
The Indomitable Lions fielded a notably changed and younger side against Comoros. Their new-look selection took the lead in the 39th minute when David Nyengue marked his debut with a finish from Namaso’s delivery. It was Cameroon’s only attempt of the first half.
Captain Bryan Mbeumo extended the advantage three minutes after the interval, cutting inside two defenders in the box before striking with his left foot.
Comoros, coached by Frenchman Hubert Velud, replied immediately through Warmed Omari in the 51st minute. The former France youth international converted their first real opening. Amiens goalkeeper Yannick Pandor then saw a Cameroon effort come back off his post on the hour.
Pandor was unable to stop Namaso late on, however. The Auxerre man found the net in the 81st minute for his first Cameroon goal, coming on his 13th appearance for the national side.
Elsewhere, Hervé Renard began his Ivory Coast reign with a 2-0 victory over Ghana. The 57-year-old French coach watched Brighton midfielder Malick Yalcouye, 20, score on his first international outing just before half-time, driving a powerful shot in from the edge of the area.
Yalcouye was involved again after the break, winning the penalty that Franck Kessié converted in the 58th minute. Kessié had provided the pass for Yalcouye’s opener.
Tunisia did not make the start new coach Mouine Chaabani wanted, drawing 1-1 with Uganda. Chaabani, 45, arrived after a damaging World Cup campaign and had previously won Morocco’s league title and the Confederation Cup with RS Berkane.
Adem Arous put Tunisia ahead from close range after 12 minutes, but Uganda levelled through Rogers Mato in the 68th. Uganda are taking part in qualifying despite already having a place at the finals as co-hosts.
Zimbabwe completed the night’s comeback in a 3-2 win against Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone had scored twice inside the opening half-hour, only for Marshall Munetsi, formerly of Stade de Reims and Paris FC, to begin the recovery in the 72nd minute. Tawanda Chirewa made it 2-2 five minutes later, before Munetsi struck again in the 89th minute to claim his first Zimbabwe double.
The next appointment in France
The 36th Africa Cup of Nations will be staged by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July. Uganda’s place is already assured as one of the three co-hosts, while the other nations began their qualifying campaigns on Thursday.
