By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Striking Eagles, the football team representing the US Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon, have finished third in this year’s edition of the American International School of Yaoundé’s annual tournament.
This much-anticipated event took place on Saturday, February 28, in Yaoundé and featured an impressive lineup of over eight teams competing in a round-robin format.
Among the participating teams were Hilton Hotel, the Canadian School, Petit Genie, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and AISOY, each bringing their unique spirit and skills to the field.
The tournament commenced with a competitive group phase, where each team played three matches within their respective pools. This phase was characterized by intense matches that showcased the talent and determination of all teams involved.
Following the group stage, the top two teams from each pool advanced to the semi-finals, leading to an exciting series of elimination matches culminating in the finals. In a classification match, Striking Eagles came third.
Ultimately, Hilton Hotel emerged as the champions of this year’s tournament, triumphing over ICRC with a final score of 5-3. The match was a thrilling display of athleticism and teamwork.
The highly coveted Man of the Match award was presented to the captain of the CICR team, retired gendarmerie Col. Kouakap Celetine, who exhibited remarkable skill by scoring a total of six goals throughout the tournament, three of which came during the finals, although for his team lost 5-3.
On his part, the Hilton Hotel FC coach Mario Olinga was so elated for grabbing the their first trophy of annual competition. The CICR team Manger Hilaire Noundjio on his part acknowledged their defeat and promised a strong comeback when they meet during the 2027 tournament
Situated in the historic capital city of Yaoundé, AISOY stands out as the only accredited English-speaking institution in the region offering an American-style educational program amidst a predominantly French-speaking context.
Founded in 1964, ASOY now called AISOY operates as an independent not-for-profit, co-educational school that serves a diverse student body representing over 32 countries.
With their dedicated mission to Engage, Empower, and Excel, they are committed to fostering an environment where students can embrace their individual passions, develop their unique talents, and become engaged, caring, and fulfilled global citizens.
Their goal is to equip them with the skills and mindset necessary to make a positive impact on society. The annual international football competition was organised by the AISOY coach Matiafa Emmanuel and coordinated by AISOY Athletic Director Madhu Kapoor.
