IVORY COAST DREW 0-0 with Cameroon in their African Cup of Nations qualifier the other day in a game that was marred by controversy.

Exhausted due to the heat and realising both teams would advance to the next round if the result stayed the same, Ivory Coast’s players simply passed the ball around unchallenged for the final few minutes of the match, with their opponents refraining from putting any pressure on them.

The game had echoes of the infamous 1982 World Cup clash between West Germany and Austria, which was labelled the “Disgrace of Gijon,” after the players involved — in a similar manner to the aforementioned sides — appeared to settle for the 1-0 result that would see both teams advance amid a tepid final few minutes (see below).

The Cameroon-Ivory Coast game was not quite so tame, with Stephane Mbia at one point getting sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Nonetheless, the conspicuously unspectacular final few minutes won’t reflect well on either side, with criticism already levelled at both teams for their actions.

h/t Telegraph

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