ACTUALITE |
30.01.2002
Cameroon march on as DR Congo leave `Elephants` packing their trunks
SIKASSO
Cameroon maintained their perfect start to the 2002 African Nations Cup Tuesday with a win over Togo as the Democratic Republic of Congo stunned Ivory Coast 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
With reigning champions Cameroon already confirmed as Group C winners after taking maximum points from their opening two games, attention turned to the question of who would join them in the second phase.
Pedigree suggested Ivory Coast were the likeliest bet, their talented squad favoured to secure a win over the Congolese at their match in the gold mining town of Kayes.
But a superb DR Congo performance, with fit-again Monaco attacker Shabani Nonda playing a key role, left the Ivory Coast `Elephants` packing their trunks and heading for home.
Dismissed as the no-hopers of Group C after playing no warm-up matches and almost being expelled before the tournament due to government interference, the Congolese took a 28th minute through Yves Yuvuladio.
Crack striker Nonda, who missed the 0-0 draw with Togo after returning to Monaco for treatment of an influenza virus, tapped in the second with 66 minutes gone on a clear, hot afternoon.
And Papy Kimoto added a third from an 80th-minute penalty before the Ivorian Elephants snatched a late consolation goal through Kandia Traore with an acute-angle shot.
Cameroon, 3-0 winners over Togo in Monday`s other game, topped the group with DR Congo second. The Togolese finished third with the Ivory Coast bottom of the pool.
DR Congo`s reward for reaching the last eight is a meeting with the winners of Group D, most likely to be World Cup qualifiers Senegal. Cameroon meanwhile will face Group D`s second-place team, probably Egypt or Zambia.
At Sikasso on Tuesday the `Indomitable Lions` made it three wins out of three thanks to second-half goals from Lucien Mettomo, Samuel Eto`o and Salomon Olembe.
The first came on 52 minutes. A lovely cross by Geremi Njitap was swept in from right flank, and Manchester City defender Mettomo arrived on the back post to sidefoot home on the half volley.
Real Mallorca`s African Player of the Year candidate Samuel Eto`o made sure of Cameroon`s third win at the Babemba Traore Stadium 10 minutes from time, tapping in a Patrick Mboma pass for an easy finish.
The last came on 89 minutes when Marseille midfielder Olembe, a second-half substitute, met a cross from Eto`o on the right with a crisp finish from six yards.
The Togo `Hawks`, who had needed a win to reach the quarter-finals, paid the price for failing to convert some promising early openings as Cameroon started slowly.
Togo faded badly after the break, one of their most notable attempts being a Pele-style attempt to lob the opposing goalkeeper from inside his own half by Eric Akoto.
A dour first half had ended goalless, though Togo were left kicking themselves after wasting a glorious opportunity to take the lead.
Dodji Dogbe outstripped Cameroon skipper Rigobert Song and burst into the penalty area. The forward`s shot was well-saved by Alioum Boukar but fell invitingly to Kader Coubadja following up.
Yet with the goal open wide and Boukar nowhere, Coubadja somehow managed to hammer his volley from six yards over the bar, squandering a gift-wrapped scoring chance.
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