Cameroon early on Wednesday defeated Switzerland 2-1 in their final Group C match in Edmonton to qualify for the round of 16 at the ongoing 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Conversely, Nigeria was beaten 1-0 by the US, in Vancouver and has now been eliminated.
According to the FIFA media outlet, Cameroon turned in a dynamic second-half showing to earn its first win over a European opponent at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The result secured Cameroon the second spot in Group C for the Africans behind Japan, and set up a round-of-16 meeting with China.
Both first timers, pushed forward at every opportunity, allowing for an entertaining contest, with Cameroon dominating the second half after equalising soon after the break.
Cameroon made a dream restart with Gabrielle Onguene striking two minutes after the interval, with a sweet finish from 18 yards following a pullback from the byline.
The dynamic Onguene could have repeated her feat with yet another amazing run down the right, but Francine Zouga saw her shot blocked on the line by Vanessa Bernauer.
In Vancouver, an Abby Wambach volley seconds before half-time earned US, a 1-0 victory over Nigeria. The Americans ended as Group D winners and Nigeria was eliminated.
A well balanced first 45 minutes finally fell in the Americans’ favour when Wambach struck Megan Rapinoe’s corner home at the far post.
The third African team at the competition, Cote d’Ivoire, lost all its three group matches in group B and was also eliminated.
