FIFA Women's World Cup 2019: Football Ferns eliminated after losing to Cameroon

Sarah Gregorius of New Zealand looks dejected following the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group E match between Cameroon and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.

The Football Ferns have been bounced out of the Fifa Women's World Cup in France, losing 2-1 to Cameroon in their final group match.

Ajara Nchout scored with the last kick of the game for Cameroon after the Ferns levelled the scores with an own-goal in the 80th minute on Friday morning (NZ time).

The loss at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier left New Zealand with three defeats in France, their equal-worst showing at a World Cup, alongside the campaigns of 1991 and 2007.

The win for Cameroon in their Group E match sends them into the last 16.

Nchout, whose opener was cancelled out by Aurelle Awona's own goal 10 minutes from time, found the back of the net five minutes into stoppage time to put the African side on three points.

Ferns coach Tom Sermanni found no fault in his players' sense of endeavour but admitted a lack of precision at crucial times cost them.

"We were chasing the game and we pushed players forward because we had to take those risks," he said.

"But, to be honest, if we'd just done a couple of things a little bit better when we took those risks, we would have scored the second goal," he added.

"So there's a couple of things to learn from that but the effort of the players and the commitment they showed was outstanding, I couldn't ask any more of them. The only thing I could have asked is if we'd just done a couple of the things we'd talked about a little bit better then I think we would have won the game today."

It appeared as if both sides would be exiting the tournament as the dying seconds approached with the score still locked at 1-1 but Nchout then popped up to make a national heroine of herself with the match-winner.

"None of the results went our way but you can't underestimate how much work we've put into all of the games, we've worked hard and it's just the little differences that have affect the results," Olivia Chance said.

"I think we're going to have to go back and work really hard to make sure that this doesn't happen again because it really hurts. There's a lot of girls here that have been to multiple World Cups and we've let the opportunity slip this time so we're extremely gutted at the moment," she added.

"We just need to let this sink in, remember this feeling and let it drive us for the Olympics. We really need to knuckle down and make sure we're back to winning at the Olympics."

Cameroon 2 (Ajara Nchout 58', Njoya Ajara 90'+5) Football Ferns 1 (Own goal 80').
HT: 0-0