ACTUALITE |
07.02.2002
Mali poised for the impossible
Semi-final: Mali v Cameroon
Bamako 1900 GMT
This is a match of real contrasts.
Cameroon are the reigning Champions, Olympic Champions and in three months time will go to their fifth World Cup finals.
Mali are relative newcomers to this level and their greatest achievements have been with their junior teams.
But the factor that could swing this game is that Mali have the twelfth man, namely its crowd.
Mali go into this game having beaten World Cup bound South Africa in the last round in Kayes.
Goal keeper Mohamadu Sidibe says the players are aware of the expectation in the country as they prepare to take on their toughest opponent yet.
Dramatic history
"For a long time football in Mali has not been so big and now we have to repeat the feat of the team thirty years ago who made it to the final," he said.
Cameroon`s striker and the competition`s leading scorer, Patrick Mboma, is playing down the crowd effect.
"It will be a full stadium, it will be colourful and lets hope it is a good game".
The sides have met once before at the Cup of Nations finals, that was in Yaounde in 1972 when it ended 1-1 and Mali went on to the final.
But the most interesting history between these two countries came three years ago at the Under 20 World Cup in Nigeria.
In the second round Mali came back from 4-2 down to win 5-4 with a golden goal in extra time.
Six of the side that beat South Africa were involved in that dramatic game in Enugu.
The game will pitch Cameroon`s guile and experience with the direct attacking Malians.
There is a lot at stake.
Victory for Cameroon would put them 90 minutes away from two records; a chance to become the first team since Ghana in 1965 to retain the title, and to pull along side Ghana and Egypt as the only nations to have won the cup four times.
Victory for Mali would give them the tantalising chance of winning the title - and that would truely be the fairytale ending.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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