Cameroonian side Dauphins stunned Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League champions Manang Marshyangdi Club in sudden death to enter the final of the Pokhara Cup football tournament at the Pokhara Stadium on Saturday.

The match had to be decided through spot kick after the regulation 90-minute and 30 minutes of extra time ended on a 1-1 draw. Both teams scored four out of the first five spot kicks forcing sudden death. Bimal Rana shot off the target in the sudden death and Jo Angoula converted in from the spot as Dauphins made a lucky escape into the final. In the final on Sunday, Dauphins will take on Nepal Armed Police Force Club.

After a goalless first half, Aurel Ename put the Cameroonian side ahead in the 66th minute but MMC level 14 minutes later through Olawale Oladipo Afeez. Ename leapt to his highest to head home a long pass from Ekwem in the 66th minute as Dauphins sniffed victory.

The only way out for MMC to hit back into the game was to play swiftly against the sturdy Africans which they did after conceding the goal. The hard work ultimately paid for them when Olawale struck the header on a pass from Bimal Rana.

Rejuvenated by the equaliser, MMC upped their game in the extra time but failed to give the killer blow. Skipper Sujal Shrestha, Anjan Bista, Kamal Shrestha and Heman Gurung all converted for MMC in the penalty shootout with Suraj BK missing from the spot. Biyik Biyik, Ekwem, Yannik Owona and goalkeeper Priso Ndtanga scored for Dauphins, while Wivlam failed to score.

This will be the first time in 14 years that any African team will be playing a final at the Pokhara Stadium. African United, a team combined of African footballers who then used to play in the ‘A’ Division League, had won the title during the third Aaha-Rara Gold Cup when they had beaten Nepal Police Club in the final.