Coton Sport consolidates its leadership in Cameroonian football. The Garoua-based club has been crowned Cameroonian champion for the 17th time in its history. A second consecutive title for the Green and White who beat Eding of Lekié (1-1, 3-2 ps), on Sunday, July 3, in the final of the championship play-offs.
The evening started badly for Coton Sport. The Coton Sport players were in trouble in their Roumdé Adjia stadium and were surprised by Prince Junior Sime who opened the score in the 70th minute. Bonaventure Djonkep's players continued to push forward. And just as they were thinking they would be Cameroonian champions for the second time in their history, Kaiba Djawal shattered their hopes at the end of the match. The 19-year-old midfielder equalized in stoppage time (1-1, 90th+2).
The two teams then went back and forth in extra time. But the strikers on both sides had their feet frozen. It took the fateful penalty shoot-out to decide the winner. And in this game, Coton Sport's goalkeeper was a real asset: Derrick Anye saved three penalties and allowed his team to win 3-2.
Coton Sport can thank the 27 year old keeper for a successful season. Derick Anye who has the most clean sheets this season has been behind the team's resurgence after they lost five league games in the first round of the group stages of the championship. Soulemanou Aboubakar was sacked replaced by Jacques Hamman. The coach and new staff of the team found favor in the goalkeeper who was before a second choice on the team list.
His penalty saves on the night of the finals earned him the Most Valuable Player Award, a rare feat for a goalkeeper.
