Cameroon beat Mali 4-2 to win bronze at AWCON 2018

Cameroon booked the last 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification ticket with a 4-2 win over Mali on Friday in the 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations third-placed match.

The Indomitable Lionesses made it back-to-back wins over Les Aiglonnes with a 2-1 scoreline win at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The 2016 losing finalists made a bright start when Ajara Nchout squirted her short wide across the face of goal for the first attacking move on three minutes.

After half an hour, Therese Abena opened the scoring goal from inside the box after Bernadette Ngo cut in from the right flank and hit the bar line to lay a pass for the midfielder to turn home.

On the 40th minute, Abena was on target again for a brace when she directed home with her left foot from a cross from left-back Claudine Tcheno

Before the break, Mali got back into the game after Bassira raced past Tcheno and hit the bar line before dragging the ball back into the box for Fatoumata Diarra to connect home for the consolation.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Marie Awona scored an own goal to tie the score at 2-2 when her sliding clearance ended up her own net.

But substitute Gabrielle Onguene unleashed a belter which zoomed into the top corner, rocketing past goalkeeper Adoudou Konate.

Bassira Toure missed a glorious opportunity to level the scoring but the striker shocking skied her effort from 12 yards after a lovely first control inside the Cameroon box where she was unmarked.

Substitute Yakare Niakate blocked Ngo Mbeleck's goal-bound shot which could have given the Lionesses a two-goal cushion.

Three minutes from time, Mali were awarded a free kick close to the penalty box on the left wing but Salimata Diarra curled in her effort which was off target.

In stoppage time, Cameroon scored what looked like a fluke goal when captain Christine Manine's long free kick flew into the net to seal the much-needed victory.