FIFA WORLD CUP - QATAR 2022 ⚽️🇶🇦

Presented by Joseph Kizza
(Scroll down this page for earlier updates.)
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3:02 pm  |   FULL TIME: SWITZERLAND WIN

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

 And the wait for Africa for a first win and a first goal continues at this edition.

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2:56 pm  |   FULL TIME: SWITZERLAND WIN

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

 And there goes the final whistle. HUGE three points for Switzerland.

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90 (+5) min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

 CHANCE! That was the killer goal. Or was it? No. Galatasaray man Haris Seferovic is in on goal, shakes off Jean-Charles Castelletto and turns to release a fierce shot, only for the Castelletto to throw his body in the way to block the effort. Timely interception.
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90 (+3) min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

 Cameroon attack. Nicolas Nkoulou sweeps the ball into the area but it the cleared with not real threat available.
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90 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

 SIX MINUTES OF ADDED TIME.
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86 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

 The exhaustion on the pitch is showing. A second goal for Switzerland will kill this contest. A goal for Cameroon will get everything interesting.

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83 min  |   🟨  YELLOW CARD - Akanji

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Manuel Akanji goes in the referee's book for a tackle in these closing stages. Not the time to lose one's head.
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81 min  |   🔁  SUBSTITUTION

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Switzerland throw on the fresh legs of Fabian Rieder in place of Ruben Vargas while Cameroon's Bryan Mbeumo is replaced by Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu.
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80 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

At eight goals, Vincent Aboubakar was the top goalscorer at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Altogether, here has scored 33 goals for Cameroon in 91 matches. Now that the Al-Nassr is on the pitch for his 92nd match for his nation, there will be plenty of people hoping that he finds the back of the net again.
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74 min  |   🔁  SUBSTITUTION - Cameroon

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Double change for Cameroon. Vincent Aboubakar replaces Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting while Karl Toko Ekambi  and on comes Georges-Kevin N'Koudou
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72 min  |   🔁  SUBSTITUTION - Switzerland

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

A triple change for Switzerland. Fabian Frei on for Djibril Sow, Noah Okafor replaces Xherdan Shaqiri while goalscorer Breel Embolo gives way for Haris Seferovic.
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71 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

More trouble for Cameroon as the Red Crosses attack. Silvan Widmer's pass into the danger area is cleared by the defence for the corner. Xherdan Shaqiri whips the corner in but no red shirt is there to get to the end of his deep delivery.

You get this feeling that the Swiss have turned a gear here.
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68 min  |   🔁  SUBSTITUTION - Cameroon

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Rigobert Song makes a change. Gael Ondoua replaces Martin Hongla.
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66 min  

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

GREAT SAVE by André Onana to stop Ruben Vargas from close range. That was a powerful trademark run by Xherdan Shaqiri on the fringe to deliver the pass.

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65 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE! Andre Zambo Anguissa rises highest to head the ball from a Cameroon freekick goalwards, but Yann Sommer is equal to the task and comfortably collects.
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63 min   |  🟨  YELLOW CARD (Elvedi)

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Borussia Mönchengladbach Nico Elvedi takes down fellow Germany-based opponent Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and he is penalised.
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59 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Switzerland's Ruben Vargas races clear during an attack for a second goal, but the flag is already up.
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56 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE! Cameroon's Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting drives into the box on the right and manages to shake off defenders Manuel Akanji and Ricardo Rodriguez, before Yann Sommer makes himself big enough to block the angled pass.

The resulting corner is cleared out of danger.
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53 min 

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Here is some forboding for Cameroon. They have endured the second-longest losing streak in World Cup history - seven matches. The Indomitable Lions are facing an extension of that if they don't score here.
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48 min  |   ⚽️  GOAL! - Embolo (Switzerland)

🇨🇭Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

An early breakthrough and what precision by the Swiss through Breel Embolo, who scores against the country of his birth. A man whose father lives in Cameroon has put the Red Crosses in front three minutes into the second half. It is the reason he keeps his celebration muted, but his elated teammates won't care much.

That was Xherdan Shaqiri's cross into the box that arrived to fall generously for Embolo to slot past Inter Milan keeper André Onana.

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2:06 pm  |  SECOND HALF UNDER WAY

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Action resumes inside Al Janoub Stadium.
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1:49 pm   HALFTIME - GOALLESS AT THE BREAK

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

The last action of the opening half is a freekick for Cameroon outside the danger area, which is delivered by Karl Toko Ekambi. It is a little tricky because of it's bounce, but Switzerland goalie Yann Sommer gathers the ball comfortably.

A first half of chances comes to an end.

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45 (+1) mins   

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CLOSE! Switzerland should be ahead from that corner but Manuel Akanji 's header whistles wide of the mark.
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45 mins   

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

FIVE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME.
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42 mins   

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is inside the box and his quick reaction is commendable, but his shot is blocked and flies out of play for a Switzerland corner.

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40 mins   

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Monaco man Breel Embolo forces a corner for Switzerland. From the corner, Ruben Vargas sweeps the ball into the area - it gets to teammate Nico Elvedi, whose headed effort is off-target.

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36 mins    |  🟨  YELLOW CARD (Fai)

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Collins Fai is the first man to go in Facundo Tello's book for a cynical challenge on an opponent along the sideline.
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34 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE FOR CAMEROON! Saudi Arabia-based Collins Fai slaps on the afterburners on the right flank to deliver a low cross into the path of Karl Toko Ekambi inside the box, but the Lyon forward is under heavy pressure from Silvan Widmer , who once again comes to Switzerland's rescue.
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33 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Xherdan Shaqiri remains a busy man in this contest. He tosses a pass into the area but none of his mates is able to connect.
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29 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE! Cameroon should be in front. A series of neat passing get the ball into the Swiss box. Martin Hongla drives a low effort inside the box, but glovesman Yann Sommer has a touch on it, with Karl Toko Ekambi a tad too late to meet the ball.
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25 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Karl Toko Ekambi always looks great whenever he races down the left flank. He does again, dashing forward and inside towards the edge of the Switzerland box, teasing his minder. The Lyon forward then chops a pass to a teammate, whose elaboration fails to keep the momentum going.
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22 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Silvan Widmer snuffs out a Cameroon attack lingering inside the Swiss box, with Mbeumo at the heart of that advance. The resulting corner kick does not produce the required goods from the Cameroonian point of view. Positive football on show by Song's men.
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20 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Switzerland's Ricardo Rodriguez is too heavy-handed in trying to stop Bryan Mbeumo in his tracks in the midfield. Argentine referee Facundo Tello awards a freekick against the Swiss.
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15 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Another chance for Cameroon to find the opening goal, but after a brilliant solo run by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the Bayern Munich forward is muscled off his stride just as he releases a goal-bound shot, with Yann Sommer dashing out of his goal to block the danger.
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13 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Switzerland last lost a World Cup opening match in 1966. And that was against Germany.

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10 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

CHANCE! This was a great move by Cameroon, Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi blasts a rebound inside the box over the bar when he should have kept it lower. Great opportunity for the Lions.

An early warning bell sounds for the Swiss.
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8 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Silvan Widmer engineers a Swiss attack but he meets a wall in the form of a Cameroonian defender. Ruben Vargas goes for another attempt but the African defence is there to snuff out the danger.
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7 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Cameroon are now on the attack. Hellas Verona player Martin Hongla goes for the chase, but the offside flag is up.
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5 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

A bit panicky at the Cameroonian back. Shaqiri attempts to sneak the ball through to his teammate but the Indomitable Lions clear. The Africans have yet to settle into this contest. Early nerves, maybe?

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4 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Watching on from the sidelines is Cameroonian coach Rigobert Song, wearing a cap.  The 46-year-old tactician is Cameroon's most capped player with 137 appearances from 1993 to 2010. He scored five goals in that time.

He was the first African player to play at four World Cups.
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2 mins    

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

And early corner for the Swiss. Xherdan Shaqiri whips it in - low - but the ball is blasted out of the danger area.
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1:01 pm    |   KICKOFF! - Game under way

🇨🇭Switzerland 0-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

Switzerland had a smooth journey to this World Cup and now face a side seeking redemption. Xherdan Shaqiri gets the ball rolling for the Swiss.
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12:56 pm   

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

The players are out on a bright Thursday early afternoon. Next up, pre-kickoff formalities, including national anthems. The stadium is filled with red, green, yellow.
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12:52 pm  |   FIFA recognises Cameroon legend Milla

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Cameroon legend Roger Milla has just received a special recognition from FIFA minutes before kickoff.

Milla, who is now 70, won the Bronze Boot in 1990 and he is the only individual award winner ever from Africa. He remains the oldest boot award winner to date, having won it at the age of 38. 

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12:36 pm 

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Here are the players on the respective starting lineups.

SWITZERLAND: Yann Sommer (GK), Silvan Widmer, Nico Elvedi, Manuel Akanji, Breel Embolo, Remo Freuler, Granit Xhaka, Ricardo Rodriguez, Djibril Sow, Ruben Vargas, Xherdan Shaqiri 

CAMEROON: André Onana (GK), Nicolas Nkoulou, André-Frank Zambo, Karl Toko Ekambi, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Samuel Gouet, Martin Hongla, Collins Fai, Bryan Mbeumo, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nouhou Tolo
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12:21 pm 

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

It is a colourful atmosphere inside Al Janoub Stadium in the city of Al Wakrah, where the fans are eagerly waiting for kickoff in high spirits.

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12:08 pm  |   Argentine ref in charge

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Argentine referee Facundo Tello (pictured), 40, will officiate today's earliest game, assisted by Ezequiel Brailovsky and Gabriel Chade. Said Martinez will be the fourth official.

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11:59 am  

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Cameroon, on the other hand, played four friendly matches in the lead-up to Qatar. They lost to Uzbekistan (0-2) and South Korea (0-1), and drew 1-1 against Jamaica and Panama.
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11:56 am  

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

This is the second time Switzerland are grouped with an African nation. The first time was in 2006, with Togo. They beat Emmanuel Adebayor's Togo 2-0 (pictured) and eventually led the group to advance.

Meanwhile, the Swiss warmed up for this World Cup with a friendly against Ghana on November 17 in UAE. The Black Stars, who are also at this tournament, won 2-0.
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11:47 am  |   Cameroon's WC goals

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Altogether, the Indomitable Lions have scored 18 goals at the World Cup.

At five goals, Roger Milla is Cameroon's top goalscorer at the World Cup. One of those goals - netted in 1994 - made him the oldest player to ever score at a World Cup. He was 42 years and 39 days old at the time.

Current Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto'o retired with three World Cup goals to his name while François Omam-Biyik and Patrick M'Boma have two.

Joël Matip scored Cameroon's only goal at their last appearance in Brazil 2014.
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11:43 am  |   Switzerland's WC goals

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Switzerland have scored a total of 34 goals at the World Cup. Josef Hügi (pictured below, right) scored six of those at the 1954 edition and remains the country's World Cup top goalscorer.

André Abegglen, Robert Ballaman and Xherdan Shaqiri - who is on the current squad - each have four World Cup goals to their name.

Switzerland's five goals at the 2018 edition were scored by Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Blerim Džemaili, Steven Zuber and Josip Drmić.
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11:36 am  |   Cameroon at the World Cup

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Cameroon are making their eighth World Cup appearance in Qatar after missing the last edition in Russia. Their previous participation was in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014.

Their best ever performance was in 1990, when they became the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals. Only Senegal have equalled that feat, when they reached the last-eight in 2002 on their World Cup debut.

At Italy 1990, Valery Nepomnyashchy's Cameroon side shocked a Diego Maradona-led Argentina when they beat the eventual runners-up 1-0 in their opening group match in Milan. Francois Omam-Biyik, who is now 56, scored the winner.

Roger Milla then scored a brace in Cameroon's second group game - a 2-1 win over Romania. Although the Indomitable Lions lost 0-4 to Soviet Union in their last group match, they advanced from Group B as the leaders.

At the round of 16 stage, Milla once again scored a three-minute brace - in extra time - against Colombia to power Cameroon to the quarter-finals, where the African side's fairytale was brought to an end by England through Gary Lineker's extra-time winner in a 3-2 result in Naples.

By reaching that far into the competition, Cameroon had already written their name in African World Cup history.
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11:27 am  |   Switzerland at the World Cup

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Switzerland have come to Qatar for their 12th World Cup edition. Seven of their past appearances happened in the 20th century - 1934, 1938, 1950, 1954, 1962, 1966 and 1994 - and that is when they were the most successful.

They reached the quarterfinals on three occasions -1934, 1938 and 1954 - and finished at the round of 16 four times: 1994, 2006, 2014 and most recently 2018 (pictured).

Switzerland failed to go beyond the group stage in 1950, 1962, 1966 and 2010.
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11:18 am 

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Switzerland v Cameroon is the opening match of Group G, so the table only presents 'factory settings' at the moment. That look will be different by 3pm later today.

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11:15 am  |  WORLD CUP DAY 5 COVERAGE

🇨🇭Switzerland v Cameroon 🇨🇲 (1pm)

Good morning everyone, welcome back for New Vision's continuing text coverage of selected games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Today's four-match schedule throws the teams of Group G and Goup H into the fray.

First up, 1954 hosts Switzerland are meeting Cameroon for the very first time at a World Cup tournament in the early Group G kickoff, with the five-time African champions looking to arrest an unwanted seven-match World Cup losing streak.

Two-time champions Uruguay will then open Group H with a tasty duel against 2002 joint-hosts and semifinalists South Korea at 4pm, before Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal take on four-time African champions Ghana at 7pm in another Group H matchup.

Five-time record World Cup champions Brazil will then wrap up the opening games round of this edition with a duel against Serbia in Group G at 10pm.