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Two years ago, Ambroise Oyongo left the Africa Cup of Nations distraught and uncertain about his future. An abrupt trade from the New York Red Bulls to Montreal Impact - executed without forewarning or his consent - disrupted his tournament. Days after scoring his first goal for his national team, he watched Cameroon slide out of AFCON 2015 with a loss to (eventual champion) Ivory Coast.
In 2017, however, Oyongo leaves the Africa Cup of Nations a champion. Cameroon beat Egypt, 2-1, in the AFCON 2017 final.
History was against the Indomitable Lions. Twice they had played Egypt in an AFCON final and twice they had lost. And in the 22nd minute, Mohamed Elneny scored for the Pharaohs to make it appear it would be third time unlucky for Cameroon.
Egypt had only conceded one goal in the tournament in its run to the final. But Cameroon made it two goals conceded by the Pharaohs when Nicolas Nkoulou headed in the 59th minute.
And Vincent Aboubakar turned a hopeful punt up the field into a match-winner in the 88th.
Oyongo left RBNY under (for him) distressing circumstances in 2015. But the man he regards as a father, Ibrahim Sekagya, is still a Red Bull and was watching.
@OyongoA congrats my son ⚽️
— Ibrahim Sekagya (@ISekagya) February 5, 2017
Congrats, indeed: to Ambroise Oyongo and to Cameroon.