This is the third World Championship for Cameroon, but they had to wait for their first-ever win until today – and Laeticia Ateba's 14 goals helped the African side to beat Uzbekistan by a big margin. 

PRESIDENT'S CUP GROUP I
Cameroon vs Uzbekistan 42:23 (19:6)

While Uzbekistan had claimed their maiden win at this level on Thursday against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Cameroon followed their example by beating the Asian team. Now they are both level on two points, and the final placement in President's Cup Group I will be decided on Monday, when Cameroon will face Iran, and Uzbekistan are set to play the group leaders Angola. 

The teams were tied at 3:3 early in the match, but although Cameroon's left wing Yvette Yuoh got a red card for a rough challenge on Dilbarhon Bahromova already in minute 6, it did not stop 'the Lionesses' from using their advantage in height and physical power and pulling ahead. Their goalkeeper Marie Balana recorded 10 saves during the first half, and her heroics helped the African team to a 9:3 lead.

Although Uzbekistan's goalkeeper Turoyim Mamirova also did a good job, finishing the game with 15 saves, her teammates missed many shots and made a lot of technical mistakes. Cameroon's young right back Laeticia Ateba scored seven goals during the first 30 minutes, lifting the African side to a 13-goal lead.

"I am a football fan, and I know Cameroon mostly for football, but now I see that they have a very good handball team," Uzbekistan's coach Jasur Akramov said. 

Balana made a few more saves soon after the restart, but then a string of Bahromova's goals helped Uzbekistan to make the game a bit more balanced. Still, 'the Lionesses' maintained a safe advantage and hit the 30-goal mark in minute 46, when Ateba scored her 11th goal.

No wonder she went on to become top scorer of the game with exactly a third of her team's tally, as Cameroon took a long-awaited and well-deserved victory. 

"This is my first World Championship, and I'm happy to be here. It was important to win today, as we didn't want to return to Cameroon without a victory or maybe two," Ateba said after the game. 

hummel Player of the Match: Laeticia Ateba, Cameroon

Photo: RFEBM / J. Navarro