The Arizona Republic

Cameroon rallies to tie Serbia 3-3

- Jerome Pugmire

AL WAKRAH, Qatar – Cameroon staged an impressive comeback in a 3-3 draw against Serbia at the World Cup despite replacing its goalkeeper at the last minute.

Andre Onana, who plays for Italian club Inter Milan, wasn’t in Cameroon’s lineup or even at the stadium to watch the Group G match.

Coach Rigobert Song said he dropped his starting goalkeeper for “disciplina­ry reasons,” but didn’t give any specifics.

“In a group you need to respect the rules that apply to everybody, and I prefer to ensure that the team takes precedence over individual­s,” Song said. “If you can’t fit in with what’s required to be part of a squad, then I do think that you need to step up to the plate and accept responsibi­lity for that.”

Song replaced Onana with Devis Epassy, who made only his sixth internatio­nal appearance.

“I took a risk, I realize that,” Song said. “Maybe we’re going to have to explain what happened later.”

Song said Onana hasn’t been kicked out of the squad and didn’t rule him out of Cameroon’s last group stage match against Brazil on Friday.

“For the time being I’ve asked him to wait and we’ll see if he’s going to stay with us,” Song said. “It’s up to him as well to a certain extent. He’s going to have to agree to respect the rules to perhaps come into the squad.”

Onana, who has 34 internatio­nal caps made no comment on the decision except posting the starting lineup, with his notable absence, on Instagram.

Epassy said he found out Sunday night he would replace Onana, who offered him encouragem­ent.

“We don’t have any problem together,” Epassy said. “It’s my role to be ready.”

Cameroon was down 3-1 but second-half substitute Vincent Aboubakar turned the game with a goal and an assist.

He lobbed Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the 64th minute to score his 34th goal for the Indomitabl­e Lions, and set up striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting two minutes later for the equalizer.

“The lion roared today,” Aboubakar said. “I dedicate this result to the squad, and to the people of Cameroon.”

The thrilling draw was the first game at the World Cup in Qatar in which both teams gave up a lead.

 ?? FRANK AUGSTEIN/AP ?? Cameroon’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, front, is challenged by Serbia’s Nemanja Radonjic during a World Cup group G match on Monday at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar.
FRANK AUGSTEIN/AP Cameroon’s Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, front, is challenged by Serbia’s Nemanja Radonjic during a World Cup group G match on Monday at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar.

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