The Junior Lions are one step to the next Africa Cup of Nations in that category by gaining a last round qualifier berth. After pulling a one-all draw in the away leg in Free Town a fortnight ago, the Junior Lions beat the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone 2-0 in the return leg at the Amadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde on Saturday to qualify 3-1 on aggregate.

The match got up to a fearful start as the Lions played with no zeal, exposing tactical lacunas and lack of creativity upfront. However, upon resumption for the second half, they stepped up the gear but failed to concretise the several opportunities they created upfront notably at the 75th minute when Mbongo Ewangue came face to face with the goalkeeper and instead of firing at the goal, preferred to give a back pass to a team-mate marked by two Sierra Leonean players at the edge of the 18-metre box. Just at a time spectators thought Cameroon was riding for a draw which would suit them because of the away goal advantage, Eloundou Etoundi headed-in a corner kick to get the curtain raiser for Cameroon and set the match alight.

Wounded in their pride the Sierra Leoneans turned aggressive with Mohamed Zacharia obtaining a red card after two yellow bookings. The Lions however managed to contain the onslaught of the Sierra Leoneans and again against expectations obtained a second goal through Mbongo Ewangue at the 84th minute. From then Cameroon took ascendancy in the game as the Sierra Leoneans were dispirited, controlling the game to the blast of the final whistle.

Cameroon will face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last round qualifying series who had an easy walk over the Mauritius Island to obtain a place in the last round qualifiers. The D.R.Congo is not going to be an easy hurdle to overcome for the Junior Lions in their effort to gain a place in the final round of the Africa Cup of Nations to take place in Algeria 2013. In the last edition in South Africa, Cameroon was beaten in the final by Nigeria. Their goal this time is to reconquer the trophy that eluded them in South Africa in 2011.