Heartbreak of a lifetime for Eto'o

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Eto'o

Superstar striker Samuel Eto'o said that Cameroon becoming the first team eliminated from the first FIFA World Cup™ in Africa is the greatest disappointment of his legendary career. Eto'o opened the scoring in the 10th minute but it was not enough to deny Denmark a 2-1 Group E victory on Saturday that sealed the African side's elimination after an opening loss to Japan.

"I think so," said the Inter Milan star, when asked if this was his greatest disappointment. "All my season was focused to be ready for this World Cup. It's the only thing I could think about."

That was a season that included a second consecutive UEFA Champions League crown, this one for Inter after helping Barcelona to the 2009 crown, and was to be topped by an African-record sixth trip to the FIFA World Cup by Cameroon. Instead, the South Africa trip has brought only heartache for the not-so Indomitable Lions, who reached the 1990 quarter-finals in the best run by any African nation at the FIFA World Cup.

"It's hard. It's not normal for us to finish last," Eto'o said. "But there will be other days. They played better than us in the match. It's that simple."

Cameroon captain Eto'o, a three-time African Player of the Year who made his FIFA World Cup debut in 1998 at age 17, still hopes to rally the Lions for a solid showing against the Dutch in their final match at Cape Town on Thursday. "I want to finish with dignity in the last game," Eto'o said. "That is very important."

Asked who was to blame for Cameroon's horror showing, coach Paul Le Guen took full responsibility. "Me. Only me," he said. "The team was glad to be here. They wanted to finish better. We hoped to play to our potential more than we showed."

Le Guen, who coached Lyon to three French titles, said he had no regrets even with the poor results. "I accept criticism and opinions but I really thought about it and I have no regrets about my team selection," he said.

But Le Guen admits he will have regrets over the FIFA World Cup losses, especially after three line-up changes failed to prove enough to grab Cameroon a victory. "I will have regrets for tonight because we weren't clinical. I will have regret because we lost to Japan without playing well," he said.

"I have regrets from both games but for different reasons. The match we played tonight, we weren't far away. We were very close but we didn't make it. It's a big disappointment. We didn't finish off our chances."

As a result, the Lions are truly finished for this FIFA World Cup title hunt. "I'm very sad for the Cameroon people," Le Guen said. "We can look at the time I took over to now -- we're out but we got to the World Cup. I worked for the good of the team. It wasn't enough."

Resurgent Rommedahl sparks Danes

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Cameron and Denmark

A revitalised Dennis Rommedahl provided Denmark's dynamite as they ended Cameroon's FIFA World Cup™ hopes at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria on Saturday evening.

The 33-year-old Ajax winger hauled his side back into contention after the Indomitable Lions had taken the lead in an error-strewn but exciting start to the game. Building on his fine display against the Dutch last Monday, the veteran popped up on the right to square a precise centre into the path of the inrushing Nicklas Bendtner, who gratefully slid the ball into the back of the net. Speaking to FIFA after the game the appreciative Arsenal forward praised Rommedahl, saying: "At the end of the match I went up to him and said, 'We've hardly seen you in the last two years and all of a sudden you've been the best player in our last two matches, and at the World Cup as well'. He really is a strange guy but I love him to bits."

Asked about his performance, which he capped with an excellent winner in the second half – his first goal for his country since June 2007 – Denmark's hero of the hour smiled self-effacingly. "We created some great chances and it was a very open match," he said, attempting to deflect attention away from his match-winning performance. "We've given ourselves the chance of going through if we can win our next match and the team's on a real high right now."

Joker in the pack
Dubbed "the coach's son" by the national press, Rommedahl is a much-loved figure in the Danish dressing room. "The boys love him and they hate it whenever someone criticises him," said a Danish journalist covering Saturday night's game. "The players always have stories to tell you about him. He makes everyone laugh and he just takes life as it comes. Dennis is always happy."

Often singled out for his inconsistent and sometimes erratic displays on Denmark duty, the Ajax wide man, who has spent the last six months on loan at NAC Breda, is an ever-present in Morten Olsen's plans. After the former Denmark captain took over as national coach, Rommedahl played 38 straight internationals. On the scoresheet in the 2-0 defeat of France in the first round at Korea/Japan 2002, he has since sought to remind fans of his worth. In the eyes of his coach and fellow international team-mates, however, he has no points to prove. "Everybody is really happy for him," added Bendtner, genuinely delighted at his colleague's world-class showing on Saturday, one that is sure to win over a good few of his dwindling band of detractors.

Japan 1-0 Cameroon

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Japan 1-0 Cameroon

Japan edged out Cameroon in a dour encounter at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium which produced little in the way of goalmouth action.

A far from capacity crowd witnessed two out-of-form teams struggle to find any inspiration in another tepid World Cup encounter.

After a dire opening half-hour the Japan took the lead against the run of play when Dalsuke Matsui’s cross looped over Stephane Mbia and was met by Keisuke Honda, who fired in coolly at the back post.

Japan almost doubled the lead when Makoto Hasebe crashed an effort towards goal but it was well saved by Souleymanou Hamidou before the offside Shinji Okazaki clattered the post as he followed up.

Cameroon finally found some urgency in the closing stages as Mbia rattled the crossbar from 25 yards but the well-drilled Japan side were able to hold on and go level with the Netherlands at the top of Group E.

The Blue Samurai, who had lost four straight games in their World Cup build-up before drawing 0-0 with Zimbabwe, set out so defensively it seemed they would be happy with a point from the opening whistle.

And although Cameroon showed more endeavour, the fact that star striker Samuel Eto’o was played wide on the right and was often found lurking very deep, they lacked any sort of cutting edge.

A 37th-minute shot from Eyong Enoh was the first goalmouth action of the game and, although it was comfortably collected by Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, it did finally suggest Cameroon may start to find gaps in the Japanese defence.

But the opposite was true as, despite their lack of attacking intent, Japan took a surprise lead one minute later.

Matsui’s deep left-footed cross was completely missed by the Cameroon defenders and Honda had time to control the ball before passing into the net.

The Indomitable Lions are the most successful African side in World Cup history having qualified for the World Cup six times, but the pride and passion shown by previous incarnations was sadly lacking in this first tournament on their own continent.

Immediately after half time however, it suddenly seemed Cameroon had roused themselves from their slumber.

Three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o finally showed a glimpse of his ability when he picked the ball up on the right and beat two men on his way into the area before squaring to Maxim Choupo-Moting but the striker could not control his finish and blasted over the bar.

But that impetus was not to last and it was not until the 85th minute that Cameroon found two efforts which could have stolen them a point.

In a moment of inspiration totally out keeping with the rest of the game, Mbia hammered a stunning effort towards goal from 25 yards which crashed off the crossbar and following that Kawashima saved from Pierre Webo in injury time.

In fairness to Japan the Asian side’s tactics worked almost perfectly as they defended solidly but on this evidence the Netherlands and Denmark will have little to worry about going into the tournament’s second week.

Japan

• 21 Eiji Kawashima
• 03 Komano
• 04 Tanaka
• 05 Nagatomo
• 22 Nakazawa
• 02 Abe Yellow card
• 07 Endo
• 08 Matsui (Okazaki, 68)
• 17 Hasebe Captain (Inamoto, 88)
• 18 Honda
• 16 Okubo (Kisho Yano, 81)

Substitutes:

• 01 Narazaki,
• 23 Kawaguchi,
• 06 Uchida,
• 13 Daiki Iwamasa,
• 15 Konno,
• 10 Nakamura,
• 14 Nakamura,
• 20 Inamoto,
• 09 Okazaki,
• 11 Tamada,
• 12 Kisho Yano,
• 19 Morimoto

Cameroon

• 16 Hamidou
• 02 Assou-Ekotto
• 03 N’Koulou Yellow card
• 05 Bassong
• 21 Matip (Emana, 63)
• 11 Makoun (Geremi, 75)
• 18 Enoh
• 19 M’bia Etoundi
• 09 Eto’o Captain
• 13 Choupo-Moting (Idrissou, 75)
• 15 Webo

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Though their light may have faded somewhat since they brightened up the world stage at the 1990 FIFA World Cup™, Cameroon are not a side to underestimate at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The top African nation in FIFA’s rankings, they also bring Africa’s richest pedigree to the finals. They have appeared a continental-best five times in the World Cup, and no other African side has yet eclipsed their historic run to the Italy 1990 quarter-finals – though Senegal equalled the achievement in 2002.

However, the team have not managed to advance past the group stage in three finals appearances since then, winning just once in their nine matches. They lost out on Germany 2006 entirely after missing a penalty kick in the final moments of their last qualifier against Egypt. But the long road to the 2010 World Cup has forged considerable momentum behind what many Cameroonians are hoping is the right mix of players, and a new generation of Roger Millas and Francois Omam-Biyiks.

The road to South Africa
Though the 2-0 victory in Morocco that clinched their qualification was straightforward enough, Cameroon had in fact completed an impressive turnaround in a campaign that started with just a draw from their first two matches. Two victories in four days over contenders Gabon were followed by a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Togo, and Cameroon’s four consecutive wins were more than enough to reach South Africa. In the end, the team, led from the back by the likes of veterans Geremi Njitap, Rigobert Song and goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni, gave up just two goals in six final round contests.

The star players
Eto'o scored a total of nine goals in 11 qualifiers, and the world class striker will be the first player opposing coaches try to stop. The promising Pierre Webó is the other main threat up front, while Jean Makoun, Stephane Mbia and Alexandre Song give the midfield a classy but rugged edge in front of mainstays Song, Geremi and Kameni.

The coach
The reversal of fortune for Cameroon coincided with the arrival of no-nonsense 45-year-old coach, Frenchman Paul Le Guen, who took over from German veteran Otto Pfister after the slow start. Le Guen had previously taken charge of big clubs Lyon, Rangers and Paris St. Germain, and he brought a sea change in attitude and professionalism to the side. His controversial decision to hand the captaincy to three-time African player of the year Samuel Eto'o in place of long-time captain Rigobert Song turned out to be just what the two players and the team needed.

Record
• Cameroon were eliminated at the group stage of Spain 1982 despite not suffering a defeat. They lost out to Italy for second in the table on the goals scored ti-ebreaker after three draws.

• Cameroon have played in 17 FIFA World Cup matches, the most of any national team from Africa. Their 1-0 defeat of holders Argentina to kick off the 1990 FIFA World Cup is one of the great upsets in the history of the event.

• Roger Milla was a record 42 years and 39 days old when he scored for the Lions against Russia in the 1994 World Cup. He was also the first African to play in three World Cup finals.

What they said
“We have again made people believe in this team. It’s a great achievement for all of us to be able to play in a World Cup, especially one in Africa. We are dangerous because we have a good mix of experience, and we have learned to play together,” Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o.

Lions tear Group D wide open

Lions tear Group D wide open

Day 8 - Four-time champions Cameroon got their first points at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, but had to toil in coming from behind to defeat Zambia 3-2 in a thrilling game in Lubango, Angola.

The result means Gabon remain Group D leaders with four points after a goalless draw with Tunisia in the earlier match, while Cameroon have three points, Tunisia two and Zambia one. The Gabonese, who were not expected to be serious challengers at the tournament, beat Cameroon in their first match and again held their own Sunday against one of the perennial tournament favourites and the 2004 champions.

Cameroon were behind for exactly one hour, and facing an embarrassingly early exit from a Nations Cup that many thought they would win, before having the better of a dramatic ending to beat the skilled but occasionally shaky Chipolopolo.

Results
Gabon 0-0 Tunisia
Cameroon 3-2 Zambia (Geremi 68’, Eto’o 72, Idrissou 86’; J. Mulenga 8’, C. Katongo pen 81’)

Goal of the day
Cameroon 3-2 Zambia, Mohamadou Idrissou (86’)
Mohamadou Idrissou proved the value of his imposing presence in the Cameroonian attack by heading home the late winner, rising strongly above the Zambian defence to power the ball wide of goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and into the back of the net. Ignored throughout the FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign, Idrissou was a late choice for the CAN but proved the perfect introduction when Cameroon were in obvious trouble at half-time. He was brought on to add to the attack and his presence induced the necessary panic in the Zambia defence for Cameroon to turn around the score line and go on to win the game, fittingly through the substitute himself.

Memorable Moments
Staying in the game
Carlos Idriss Kameni has a credible claim to being Africa’s best goalkeeper and his double save in the 38th minute might just have been the moment Cameroon’s Nations Cup campaign was saved. With Zambia leading, and Cameroon heading out if they were to lose, Kameni pulled off two spectacular stops to deny Zambia doubling their lead. First a swerving free-kick from Rainford Kalaba was punched away but fell right onto the foot of Chris Katongo, who propelled it back goalwards only for Kameni to get up off the turf and make a reaction save, turning the ball around the post for a corner. Zambia should have been 2-0 up, but Kameni established a beachhead from which the Indomitable Lions were eventually able to fight their way back into the game.

More than just a slip
With 26 minutes gone in the game between Tunisia and Gabon, Tunisian striker Armine Chermiti showed all of his speed of thought and feet by intercepting a shallow back pass. Goalkeeper Didier Ovono realised the imminent danger and came rushing out, but Chermiti showed skill in gliding past him. With only a simple side-footed effort needed to claim the goal, he slipped and the chance went begging. It was the closest Tunisia got to claiming their first win of the tournament.

The goals just keep on coming
Given his predatory instincts, it is no wonder Samuel Eto’o is the all-time leading goal scorer in the Nations Cup. That record was extended to 17 goals on Sunday with a typical finish from the three-time African Footballer of the Year. Somen Tchoyi’s inviting cross in the 72nd minute was poorly dealt with by the Zambian defence, with a nervous clearance striking Eto’o and falling invitingly in the penalty area. Before any of the Zambians could react, Eto’o was on to the ball like a flash and thundered a shot into the back of the net.

Three that went by
Gabon’s Eric Mouloungui had three memorable chances to take the lead for Gabon against Tunisia, twice with his head and once with a rasping shot from some distance out. His enterprise, however, was not matched by his finishing and all the chances went wide, marking narrow escapes for Tunisia. The worst miss came in the 18th minute when he was left completely unmarked, but he watched in horror as his header flew off target.

The stat
11 – The number of goals scored in two successive group matches played between Cameroon and Zambia at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. In Ghana two yeas ago, Zambia were defeated 5-1, but on Sunday it was a much closer yet equally entertaining affair.

What they said
"We showed the quality of the lion and fought right to the end for the three points.” Veteran Cameroon defender Geremi, who scored a goal when his cross from the right bobbled through Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene’s hands.

Tomorrow's matches
Angola - Algeria (18 Jan. 16:00 GMT)
Mali - Malawi (18 Jan. 16:00 GMT)

Have your say
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