MTN Elite One Championship • Matchday 3 Review

The third round of Cameroon’s MTN Elite One championship produced a midweek feast of football that saw the early league leaders toppled, a derby that lived up to its billing, and the emergence of Panthère Sportive du Ndé as the competition’s pacesetters. From Bafoussam to Limbe, across seven fixtures spread over two days, the message was clear: this season will be anything but predictable.

While some fancied sides found themselves becalmed in goalless draws, others seized their moment with clinical finishing and shrewd tactical adjustments. Here’s how it all unfolded.

Stalemate in Bafoussam: Aigle Royal and Canon Play Out Frustrating Draw

Aigle Royal de la Menoua 0-0 Canon Sportif de Yaoundé

At the Bamendzi stadium, two sides with contrasting ambitions cancelled each other out in a match that promised more than it delivered. Aigle Royal pressed forward with intent from the opening whistle. Yet for all their probing, they found Canon’s Karim Bello in inspired form. The visiting goalkeeper produced a string of crucial saves, repeatedly denying the hosts when a breakthrough seemed imminent. At the other end, Fansu was equally alert, ensuring that Canon’s sporadic forays into attacking territory came to nothing.

Coach Anicet Kouong’s side dominated possession and territory but lacked the cutting edge to breach a well-drilled defensive unit. Canon, for their part, showed the kind of tactical maturity that has served them well in recent seasons, happy to absorb pressure and look for openings on the break.

The goalless draw extends a curious statistical quirk between these two: twelve draws in their last twenty-one meetings. Aigle Royal edge the head-to-head record with one victory, while Canon boast eleven. On this showing, neither side will be particularly satisfied, though a point away from home is rarely something to be sniffed at.

Colombe Down the Leaders: Defending Champions Stun Dynamo

Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo 1-0 Dynamo de Douala

If there was a result to shake up the early narrative of the season, this was it. At the Stade Militaire in Yaoundé, Colombe Sportive produced a performance of discipline, organisation, and clinical opportunism to hand league leaders Dynamo of Douala their first defeat of the campaign.

For much of the contest, Dynamo looked every inch the side at the summit. They controlled possession, dominated the midfield exchanges, and created a raft of opportunities in the first half. But football, as the saying goes, is played on grass, not paper—and on this particular Wednesday afternoon, the ball simply wouldn’t fall kindly for the visitors.

Richard Towa’s half-time reshuffle proved decisive. Three substitutions at the break injected fresh energy and altered the dynamic entirely. Jean-Hugues Eyango Priso replaced Jude Enow, Patrick Fergani Edzimbi came on for Yvan Mvondo, and Jumah Ikose entered in place of Brice Sindjo. Eight minutes into the second period, the changes bore fruit.

Billy Marcel Djialeu threaded a pass into Ikose, who dispatched a sublime backheel finish past the Dynamo goalkeeper. It was a goal of rare quality, against the run of play, perhaps, but football doesn’t always reward dominance.

Stung into action, Dynamo threw everything forward. They carved out several clear-cut chances but were upset by resolute defending and a slice of good fortune. The pivotal moment arrived in the 77th minute when Colombe were awarded a penalty. Experienced Fergani Edzimbi, one of the second-half substitutes, stepped up with a chance to seal the points—but he shot wide over the crossbar, leaving the game open for a possible comeback from the visitors.

Dynamo pressed until the final whistle, but Colombe held firm. The defending champions, who had stumbled in their opening fixture at Garoua, bounced back emphatically with a statement victory. For Colombe, this was more than three points; it was a declaration of intent and renaissance from their backyard.

Moungo Derby Ends All Square After Late Drama

Stade Renard de Melong 1-1 Aigle Royal du Moungo

Local pride was on the line at Melong, where the Moungo derby brought the entire Division to a standstill. In a match watched by passionate supporters from across the region, Stade Renard and Aigle Royal du Moungo served up a contest that swung dramatically in the closing stages.

Renard started brightly, with striker Simplice Mbang testing the visitors early on. But Coach Fotso’s Aigle side were no pushovers, carving out two excellent chances that were only kept out by fine saves from goalkeeper Epane. The teams went into the break locked at 0-0, though neither could claim to have seized control.

The second half opened up considerably. Both sides committed more players forward, sensing that one goal might be enough. That moment arrived in the 75th minute when midfielder Willy Namedji found the net for Stade Renard, sparking wild celebrations among the home faithful.

Yet derbies have a habit of producing late twists, and this one was no exception. Just six minutes after Renard’s opener, substitute Janis Ebele levelled the scores with a composed finish, silencing the home crowd and ensuring the spoils were shared.

A draw that ultimately felt fair. Both teams can point to periods of ascendancy, but neither could sustain it long enough to claim all three points. Fans of Aigle Royal du Moungo dished out a supporting message to the players, congratulating them for putting up such a good show.

Panthere Roar to the Top with Commanding Win Over Fortuna

Panthère Sportive du Ndé 2-0 AS Fortuna de Mfou

At the Fotso Victor stadium of Bandjoun, Panthère Sportive du Ndé extended their perfect start to the season with a clinical victory that owed as much to tactical discipline as individual quality. Watched by the D.O of Nkunki and a modest but enthusiastic crowd, Clément Arroga’s side dismantled a struggling Fortuna team with a goal in each half.

The opening goal arrived in the 21st minute. Joseph Élie Tiba was at the assist to Georges Mbarga’s goal, who made no mistake from close range. It was a move that summarised Arroga’s approach: patient build-up, intelligent movement, and ruthless finishing.

Tiba’s involvement didn’t end there. Shortly before half-time, the playmaker received a yellow card for a mistimed tackle, a rare blemish on an otherwise assured performance. The teams went to the break with Panthère holding a slender advantage, though there was a sense that they had more to offer.

That impression was confirmed within ten minutes of the restart. This time, Tiba turned provider into scorer, doubling the lead with a well-taken goal that effectively put the match beyond Fortuna’s reach. From that point on, Panthère managed the game expertly, content to control possession and see out the victory without unnecessary risk.

Late in the contest, Emmanuel Uzuma picked up a yellow card for simulation—a decision the referee spotted with admirable clarity. It mattered little to the final outcome, but this attitude of players to engage into delaying tactics has to be revised as it kills the spectacle.

For AS Fortuna, the alarm bells are ringing. Three matches, three defeats, zero points. The club, built around newcomers from the lower divisions, are finding the step up to Elite One football too high to climb. Their coach acknowledged the shortcomings in his post-match comments, vowing to address the issues before their next outing. He also paid tribute to Panthère, noting their impressive trophy haul from last season. Whether AS Fortuna can arrest this alarming slide remains to be seen, but in a championship of just 14 clubs, time is already beginning to feel like a luxury they can’t afford.

Coton Sport Break Their Duck in Limbe

Victoria United de Limbe 0-1 Coton Sport de Garoua

At the Limbe Centenary Stadium, Coton Sport finally got their season up and running with a narrow but thoroughly deserved victory over Victoria United. It was a result that ended Victoria’s unbeaten home record against the northern giants.

The decisive moment came early. In the tenth minute, Ahmadou Ahidjo found space inside the penalty area and finished with composure to give Coton the lead. It was the striker’s first goal of the season—a relieve for both player and club.

Victoria pressed for an equaliser, but Coton’s defensive structure, marshalled expertly by coach Alain Djibrilla on the sidelines and David Pagou in the stands, held firm. The visitors dominated the midfield, controlled the tempo, and remained compact whenever Victoria threatened to build momentum.

Three yellow cards for Coton—Issa Ousmanou (44′), Felix Tcheoude (59′), and Dort Pascal Avama (70′)—spoke to the intensity of the contest, but the visitors never looked like surrendering their advantage. Djibrilla, speaking after the match, praised his team’s effort and suggested the win would provide a significant psychological boost ahead of their next fixture.

Victoria’s coach, David Ngambe, acknowledged his side’s improvement in certain areas but lamented their inability to convert chances and questioned whether his players had the mental sharpness required at this level. Intriguingly, club president Nkwain Valentine was spotted coaching from the bench—a hands-on approach that speaks to the club’s ambition, if not its conventional structure.

For Coton Sport, three clean sheets in three matches and five points on the board represent a solid foundation. They sit just two points off the top, and with their natural endurance married to a winning mentality, they’ll fancy their chances of climbing higher in the weeks ahead.

Bamenda Fortress Holds Strong as PWD Edge Gazelle

PWD Bamenda 1-0 Gazelle FA de Garoua

Late drama in Bamenda delivered three precious points for PWD, who maintained their perfect home record with a narrow victory over previously unbeaten Gazelle FA. It was a match that looked destined for a draw until substitute Serge Bengono Manga intervened with an 89th-minute header that sent the Bamenda Proximity Stadium into raptures.

For eighty-eight minutes, Gazelle goalkeeper Housseini had been largely untroubled, organizing his defence with authority and snuffing out PWD’s attacking forays with minimal fuss. But football has a cruel habit of punishing even the smallest lapses in concentration, and when Bengono Manga rose to meet a cross in the dying moments, there was nothing Housseini could do.

The goal was a reward for PWD’s persistence and a crushing blow to Gazelle, whose unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end. For the hosts, it was a moment to savour. Two wins from two at home, five goals scored, just one conceded, and a place in the upper reaches of the table. The statistics tell the story: Bamenda is proving a fortress.

Unisport Find Their Feet with Away Win at Fauve Azur

Fauve Azur de Yaoundé 0-1 Unisport de Bafang

At the Ahmadou Ahidjio stadium in Yaoundé, Unisport du Haut Nkam secured their first victory of the campaign with a hard-fought win over Fauve Azur. After a defeat and a draw in their opening two fixtures, Laurent Djam’s side finally clicked into gear, even if the manner of their performance suggested there’s still work to be done.

The only goal arrived in the 14th minute. Fokem, supplied by a clever pass from Charles, slotted home to give the visitors an early advantage. It was a lead they would defend for the remaining 76 minutes, though not without some anxious moments.

Unisport’s struggles in the second half are progressively being erased. A lack of physical conditioning—attributed to an inadequate pre-season preparation—.

Coach Djam will be pleased to have points on the board, but he’ll know that fitness levels need to improve if Unisport are to sustain a challenge over the course of the season. Three matches in, they’re starting to find their rhythm. The question is whether they can build on this momentum or whether fatigue will continue to be their undoing.

Match day 4 comes on Sunday, 8^th February 2026.

Matchday 3 Results

Standings After Matchday 3

PL = Played, W = Wins, D = Draws, L = Losses, GD = Goal Difference, PTS = Points

Green = Top 3 positions | Red = Relegation zone