In a thrilling match, Cameroon triumphed over Cape Verde 4-1, with Vincent Aboubakar scoring twice and Andre Onana saving a crucial stoppage-time penalty.

This marked a stress-free debut for Marc Brys, the new coach, despite initial tensions between Fecafoot and the Ministry of Sport.

Cape Verde, who had outperformed Cameroon in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, struggled with set-pieces throughout the match. The game ended decisively when Onana saved Kevin Pina's penalty in the 94th minute and was fouled by Gilson Benchimol while securing the ball.

This victory puts Cameroon at the top of Group D in the African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tied with Libya on points but ahead on goal difference. With Africa having nine spots in the expanded 2026 finals,

Cameroon looks poised to make a strong bid for a place in the tournament hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada.