The 2023 MTN Elite One Playoffs is now history but the interesting figures are exceptional. In fact, the goals, the scorers, the outstanding strikers and defenders, amongst many, made the just-ended tournament memorable.
Coton Sport of Garoua once more marked her supremacy in Douala as the most valued club of the playoffs as she came as a winner and left as a champion again.
The boys of Jean Baptiste Bisseck portrayed professionalism in all forms and stayed on top after defeating other competing clubs, Gazelle FA, Canon Sportif and Bamboutos of Mbouda in their games to settle for nine points without conceding a goal throughout the three actions. The Cotonners now count eighteen league titles with three straight wins recently.
This gives the Garoua-based side her ticket again for the qualifiers of the prestigious CAF Champions League this 2023/2024.
But then, this is the just ended Playoffs in figures:
The Matches
A total of six matches in three actions were fielded at the historic Bepanda Reunification Stadium in Douala in front of excited supporters and fans who stood on their feet throughout the crucial matches to cheer their clubs to victory.
Day-1 actions on Sunday May 14, 2023
Match Number 1: Gazelle FA 0 – 1 Coton Sport FC
Goal scorer: Moussa Limane
Match Number 2: Canon Sportif 1 – 2 Bamboutos FC
Goal scorers: Alim Betoro and Ekange Lobe for Bamboutos of Mbouda, and Henry Tchikeu for Canon Sportif Yaounde.
In all, a total of four goals were registered.
Day-2 actions on Thursday May 18, 2023
Match Number 3: Canon Sportif 2 – 0 Gazelle FA
Goal scorers: Emmanuel Mahop and Henry Tchikeu for Canon Sportif of Yaounde
Match Number 4 : Coton Sportif 1 – 0 Bamboutos FC
Goal scorer: Abdouraman Daman Bouba.
Three goals were scored on day-2 actions at the historic Bepanda Stadium in Douala.
Day-3 actions on Sunday, May 21, 2023
Match Number 5: Bamboutos FC 4 – 1 Gazelle FA
Goal scorers: Yapende, Atsama, Nasser Njoya, Alex Louke for Bamboutos of Mbouda and Sali Oumarou for Gazelle FA of Garoua.
Match Number 6: Coton FC 2 – 0 Canon Sportif
Goal scorers: Abdouraman Daman Bouba and Wassou Patient.
The last playing day witnessed the highest number of goals scored in the playoffs (7).
In fact, Coton Sport of Garoua was resilient and left the playoffs without conceding a goal and produced Man of the Match in two successive games.
Coton FC left holding her head high while lifting the coveted trophy for the 2022/2023 Elite One Season in Cameroon.
Fourteen goals were scored in the six crucial clashes fielded in three days, and for every action the stakes were high for the club in question.
The Figures
# Six matches
# 14 goals (no penalty)
# Best a Attack: Bamboutous of Mbouda with 6 goals to her credit
# Best Defence: Coton Sport of Garoua as she left without conceding any goal
# Top scorers: Henri Tchikeu (Canon), and Abdouraman Daman Bouba (Cotonsport) with two goals each
# Top Assist: Raphael Yapende (Bamboutos of Mbouda)
# No red card
# Champions: Coton Sport of Garoua
2nd place club: Bamboutos of Mbouda
3rd ranked club: Canon Sportif of Yaounde
4th ranked: Gazelle FA of Garoua
As champions, Coton Sport left Douala with a prize award of FCFA 50 million meanwhile second placed Bamboutos bagged FCFA 25 million, and FCFA 15 and 10 million went to Canon and Gazelle FA of Garoua, respectively
Benly Anchunda
