By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Melim United have secured their place in the final of the 13th edition of the Bui Sports Fans Competition (BSFC) with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chitah FC. The fiercely contested semifinal match took place at the Lycee General Leclerc Stadium in Yaoundé.
The two teams were already familiar foes, having clashed twice earlier in the tournament, with both matches ending in draws. That history added extra spice to an encounter that both sides knew could define their finals spot in the finals. From the first whistle, the intensity was high.
Chitah FC, backed by their supporters, started brightly and dominated the opening exchanges. They pressed high, won numerous balls, and forced Melim United deep into their own half. Despite the early pressure, Chitah’s final ball repeatedly let them down, and Melim’s goalkeeper made routine but confident saves to keep the score level.
Melim United on their part weathered the storm and gradually found their rhythm. Their breakthrough arrived in the dying moments of the first half. A swift counter-attack caught Chitah out of position as Melim slotted the ball into the lower-left corner, breaking the deadlock.
In the second half, Melim United focused on defending their slim lead, while Chitah FC immediately ramped up the pressure. Chitah threw caution to the wind, introducing attacking substitutes and pushing their full-backs high up the pitch. Wave after wave of attacks crashed against a resolute Melim defense, which was brilliantly marshaled to thwart them.
As the clock ticked past the 90-minute mark and six minutes of added time were signaled, tension reached fever pitch. Chitah desperately needed an equalizer to maintain their hopes of qualifying for what would have been their first-ever BSFC final appearance.
However, their long balls were repelled time and again, and when the final whistle was blew, the scoreboard read 1-0 in favour of Melim United.
Melim United consequently punched their ticket to the final, setting up a clash with the established Dzekwa Rangers. Dzekwa Rangers, who advanced to the final earlier in the week, are also making their first appearance in the final after many years of participation. The final against Dzekwa is expected to be a dramatic encounter, crowning the champion of the 13th edition of the BSFC.
Prior to the semifinal match, Bui Strikers Veteran FC and Nso Veteran FC engaged in a friendly competition to raise funds for the finals of the tournament. The match ended in a 0-0 tie.
