ACTUALITE |
11.02.2002
Cameroon the kings of Africa
Cameroon have retained the African Nations Cup after beating Senegal 3-2 on penalties after a hard-fought 0-0 draw after extra time in Bamako.
The Lions have joined an elusive group after winning the tournament for the fourth time, with only Ghana and Egypt besides Cameroon able to boast that fact. Cameroon have now won the Nations Cup in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002.
Their giant goalkeeper Alioum Boukar has also made it into the history books in Africa after keeping a clean sheet in every game Cameroon have participated in, in this year`s Nations Cup.
As a result of the feat achieved by Boukar, he joins former Ivorian shot-stopper Alain Gouamene in the record books after he achieved the same in 1992 when Ivory Coast defeated Ghana in a penalty shoot-out.
Boukar, who plays for Samsumspor in Turkey, was the key to Cameroon lifting the trophy after saving two Senegal penalties following 120 minutes of strength-sapping action.
Having won the competition four times now, Cameroon will go into this summer`s World Cup in Japan and Korea in a positive frame of mind, having never won the Nations Cup whilst preparing for an assault on the World stage. On their way to Spain for their first World Cup, Cameroon were caught napping in the Nations Cup as they were defeated by Libya.
Eight years later, they failed to get past the first round of the Nations Cup in Algeria, and they did not qualify for the Nations Cup in 1994. A little better followed for The Lions, although they still crashed out of the Nations Cup at the quarter-final stage in Burkina Faso before travelling to France for their fourth World Cup appearance four years ago.
After lifting the Nations Cup, German-born Cameroon coach Winfried Schaefer said: "I wanted this team to incorporate the fighting spirit of the Germans and learn from Manchester United`s determination to fight till the last seconds of the game.
"The problems of the past had been too much attention on the World Cup. I told the boys we must take one thing at a time. We had to focus on the Nations Cup. Now we will savour this win and then focus on the World Cup and it is a psychological boost for us to go to Japan and Korea as African Champions."
|
|
Hits: 1 | Source:Teamtalk | |
|
|
|
|
| |