Limbe, Cameroon – Victoria United’s unbeaten streak in the MTN Elite 1 championship came to an end on Sunday, December 22, in the hands of Panthere Sportive of Nde, who handed the reigning champions a 4-0 defeat at the Limbe Centenary Stadium.

Panthere Sportive executed a near-perfect game plan to secure an emphatic victory, one that left the fans of the reigning champions questioning the title holders’ performance. The result shook up the unofficial classification table, sending Victoria United down three places from first to fourth. The team currently has 7 points from 4 games played, 1 point behind Canon Yaoundé and Colombe Sportive.
Victoria United headed into the game as the strong favourites, having amazed 2 wins and a draw before the game. Confidence was certainly high, with fans expecting another dominant performance at home following their 3-0 bashing of Yong Sports Academy on matchday one at the same venue.

Panthere Sportive, who had defeated AS Fortuna in their last encounter following two successive losses, had a different idea. Panthere’s forward David Ngondo had the first effort off target in the 7th minute. That strike seems to give notice to Victoria United who responded with their shot off target with Fredex Songue sending his strike across the crossbar.

All the good efforts from Victoria United were undone in the 29th minute with Fabien Atedjoe’s thunderous strike giving Panthere the lead in the game. Konrad Sinyam should have made two zero but defender Ngu Maxwell was there to clear the ball for a corner kick. Goalkeeper Ulrich was largely undisturbed in Panthere’s goalpost, but when he was called, he stepped up. That was what he did in the 40th minute to prevent Atiabet Bekondo from equalizing for Victoria United, sending the game to 1-0 at halftime.

Second half collapse

Hoping to change the trajectory in the second half, Victoria United made some tactical adjustments but Panthere’s defence organization remained impenetrable. At the 63rd minute, Panthere delivered another shocker. Forward David Ngondo picked the ball from his own half, ran the length of the pitch and slotted it past goalkeeper Parfait Djomeni for Panthere’s second goal.

As if things could not get any worse, Panthere found the third goal in the 84th minute with David Ngondo scoring his second goal of the game, adding more pressure on Victoria United. Deep into stoppage time, the fourth and final goal of the game was scored by Abdel Njoya as Nzuimanto claimed a vital victory over the defending champions.

Victoria United’s loyal supporters, who came out in numbers with their customary chants and cheers, were left stunned by the team’s atypical performance. Some questioned how Panthere managed to put four goals past goalkeeper Djomeni. Despite the disappointment, they remain resolute in their support for their team in good and bad times.

The defeat tightens the Mtn Elite One

Championship title race, with Victoria United now fourth. Panthere Sportive’s victory propels them to sixth on the classification table with 6 points, positioning them as an outside contender for the title. The loss to Panthere Sportive may prove to be a pivotal moment in Victoria United’s season.

What did they say?

Panthere Sportive coach Didier Ngassa: “I think that our four goals, as you have seen, have been made in terms of transition. We are on a defensive plan, we recover. Above all, we have to find the free space in their backs to hurt them. The children have been respected. We could have scored even seven or eight goals. I don’t think it would have been enough for anyone tonight.”
“Victoria United is a very good team. They have a young squad. They are one of the teams that will be hurt in this championship. If their opponents don’t do their job, they will put a lot of teams in trouble.”

David Ngambe, Victoria United coach said: “It’s true, we lost a match today on a very low score, 4-2-0. It’s football, it’s football. We prepared. You saw it’s a match we started to control at the beginning of the match. The opponent had put his block to take advantage of the errors we committed to score the goal. It’s football. They put a game plan, and their game plan worked.
“We had a problem on the defensive plan. Especially on our defensive replay. It’s a defensive play that wasn’t given. You saw that in the game, we controlled the game. We had the game in our favour. But the opponent, each time on a counterattack, they managed to score the goal. I can only confirm that it’s a defensive play that wasn’t given today.”

“We prepare for tomorrow’s game in the same way. Today, we’re going to correct what didn’t work today, so that it doesn’t happen again next time. Defensively, it didn’t work. Defensively, we have to find a good balance between the defensive work and the offensive work. As soon as we find that balance, I think the problem will be solved.

What is next?

As the Mtn Elite One season progresses, Sunday’s defeat serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of the league this season. For OPOPO, the road to a second consecutive title has become significantly more challenging, but their response to this setback could define their season. While for Nzuimanto, the team will be hoping to use the momentum and charge up the league table, and maybe mount a title challenge.

Victoria United’s next fixture will be a crucial test of their resolve. With little time to dwell on the defeat, the team must focus on bouncing back and reasserting their dominance in the league. Victoria United will next meet the Abakwa Boys of PWD Bamenda on December 29 in the West Region.

For Panthere Sportive, the victory serves as a confidence boost, and they will be eager to build on their momentum in their next match against Yong Sports Academy of Bamenda. YOSA will head into the game still searching for their first victory in the new season, beaten by PWD Bamenda on matchday 4.