MTN ELITE ONE MATCHDAY 18: PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS
It all comes down to this! The final day Of the MTN Elite ONE Championship group phase for the 2023/24 season is upon us.
Preview:
It's been such a ride with some great games, like the 2-2 draw between Canon and Dynamo on matchday 15, as well as Colombe's 5-3 win over Bamboutos in round eight, not forgetting big upsets like YOSA's victory against eternal Champions Coton Sport in Matchday 15.
Cameroonian football fans have been served with exciting moments, some unforgettable ones.
Stade Renard has no doubt been the most consistent team so far this season, and it's no doubt the team from Melong is one of only three teams that have qualified for the Championship playoffs ahead of the last round of group games. Canon de Yaoundé and Coton Sports are the other two.
This leaves at least 10 other teams fighting for the five remaining Championship places.
The classification table is so close in Group A that the teams ranked 3rd to 8th are separated by just two points, and all these teams will be playing out of their skin to avoid the dreaded relegation playoffs.
Group B is less congested, but Yong Sports (third), UMS Loum (fourth), and Fauve Azure are fighting for two available Championship playoff places.
Read on for our preview and prediction of MTN ELITE ONE Championship matchday 18 games.
MTN ELITE ONE PREDICTION:
Union de Douala (6th, 24 points) Vs Dynamo de Douala (2nd, 27 points)
Form: Union (WWWWW) Dynamo (DLDDL)
Date: Sunday, 3rd February 2024
Bepanda Annex
Kick Off: 5 pm
Where else to start, if not with the top game of round 18, the Douala Derby!
Dynamo have had a blistering return to the top of the Cameroon football pyramid after a 17-year absence, and the Bon Ba Djob were odds on to qualify for the playoffs before the AFCON break.
But the sales of some key players, notably Christian Ateba, have slowed down their progress drastically, and many fans have been questioning the team's ambition, having yet to register any win in their last five outings.
Union of Douala, meanwhile, has had an indifferent season, flattering to deceive sometimes but never mounting a sustained assault on the playoff places.
The coming of Coach Ndoumbe Bosso has seen them win three on the bounce, and Union now looks like a solid outfit capable of beating anyone in the league.
Verdict: Union win or draw, both teams to score.
Predicted Score: 3-2
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Colombe du Dja (4th, 25points) Vs Aigle De la Menoua (5th , 24 points)
Form: Colombe (WWDWD) Aigle(LWWWW)
Date: Sunday, 3rd February 2024
Stade de Ngoa Ekelle
Kick Off: 5 pm
This is a game between two teams who have been impressive after the break.
Colombe du Dja came into this unbeaten in the last five, but Aigle rose toward the top of the table since the turn of the new year.
In fact, the Eagles had beaten the likes of Gazelle, Bamboutos, and PWD before losing to the imperious Canon of Yaoundé during their last time out.
A win for either side will be synonymous with Playoff qualification, so expect a really tight game in Yaoundé; we predict a low-scoring match with Colombe just edging it due to a "home" advantage.
Verdict: Colombe win
Predicted Score: 1-0
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Gazelle de Garoua (3rd 25 points) Vs PWD Bamenda(8th 23 points)
Form: Gazelle (DWWLD) PWD (WLLDW)
Date: Sunday 3rd February 2024
Roumde Adjia Stadium
Kick Off: 5pm
PWD Bamenda was sitting pretty in the playoff places before registering consecutive losses against Aigle and Union in rounds 15 and 16, which led to the sacking of Coach Nke Diedonne.
A 3-1 thrashing of the Group A punching bags Astres might have lightened the mood in the camp of the Abakwa boys, but it looks like the damage has already been done.
Although Gazelle has been firing on all cylinders, last year's playoff participants might have enough to prevent PWD Bamenda from making any further advances at the Roumde Adjia Stadium.
The game might look close on paper, but expect Gazelle to deliver the goods in front of home fans.
Verdict: Gazelle Win
Predicted Score: 2-1
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YOSA(3rd, 21 points) Vs Fovu de Baham (6th, 17 points)
Form: YOSA (DLWDW) Fovu: (LDWLD)
Date: Saturday 2nd February 2024
Stade de Mbouda
Kickoff: 3:00 pm
Yong Sports Academy has battled its way to third position and, despite not boasting a sparkling form, will be confident of overcoming last year's Cameroon Cup winners, Fovu.
This season has been a massive success for a team that maintained ELITE One Status after a playoff game last season, but can they take it one step further?
Fovu can no longer qualify for the Championship playoffs and may be short on motivation as they prepare to participate in the Relegation playoff tournament in a few weeks.
Coach Ndikum Blaise will relish the challenge of finishing off the job at their adopted home, even though Fovu might just have more fans in Mbouda than the academicians.
Still, we expect the Academicians to deliver the goods and qualify for their first-ever Championship playoffs.
Verdict: YOSA WIN
Predicted Score: 2-0
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Here are our predictions for the other ELITE games in Round 18:
- AS Fortuna (9th, 14 points) Vs Canon de Yaounde (1st, 30 points)
Verdict: Canon WIN
Predicted Score: 1-3
- Astres (10th, 14 points) Vs Bamboutos (8th, 23 points)
Verdict: Bamboutos Win
Predicted Score: 0-2
- Fauve Azure (5th, 20 points) Vs Avion Academy (8th, 15 points)
Verdict: Draw
Predicted Score: 0-0
- Coton Sports (2nd, 26 points) Vs Apejes (9th, 10 points)
Verdict: Coton WIN
Predicted Score: 3-0
- Stade Renard (1st, 30 points) Vs UMS Loum(4th, 21 points)
Verdict: UMS WIN
Predicted Score: 0-0