ACTUALITE |
12.02.2002
Cameroon coach fires parting shot over goalkeeper snub
BAMAKO
Cameroon coach Winfried Schafer could not resist a swipe at African Nations Cup tournament officials here Sunday in the wake of the `Indomitable Lions` penalty shoot-out triumph over Senegal.
Schafer, who weathered a stormy final few days at Mali 2002 which at one point saw him facing a touchline ban for the final, criticised the omission of Cameroon keeper Alioum Boukar from a Nations Cup dream team.
Boukar, who was Cameroon`s hero in the 3-2 shoot-out win with two vital saves, did not concede a single goal in 570 minutes of open play throughout the tournament.
But the talented Turkey-based shot-stopper missed out on a place in the `team of the tournament` to Senegal`s Mario Sylva, much to Schafer`s chagrin.
"I can`t understand why Sylva was chosen as goalkeeper of the tournament. Alioum didn`t concede a single goal," said Schafer.
The popular coach said even when Cameroon had missed their opening penalty he was confident Alioum could help salvage victory.
"I didn`t feel nervous when we missed our first penalty because I knew Alioum would save some of theirs - as far as I`m concerned he`s been the best goalkeeper in the tournament," Schafer told reporters.
Coming just days after Cameroon goalkeeping coach Thomas Nkono was hit with a one-year ban for his involvment in the extraordinary scenes shortly before Thursday`s semi-final, it was fitting that Boukar should have the last word.
Cameroon`s players, who were jetting back to Yaounde for a triumphant return late Sunday, revealed the penalty shoot-out had not been planned for.
"We practice our penalties whenever we train and we practices them on Saturday," said midfielder Marc Vivien-Foe.
"But tonight when it came to take them we just looked around the team and said `Right, who wants to take one?," the Lyon and former West Ham player told
"You can practice penalties but nothing compares to when you have to take them in a game like tonight. You either feel confident or you don`t," said Foe, who was not one of Cameroon`s five penalty-takers.
"When Pierre (Wome) missed our first one, we were a disappointed. But Alioum is a great keeper and we believed that Senegal would have to take five perfect penalties to score every time.
"Luckily for us they didn`t and Alioum was able to help us get back into it," Foe added.
Cameroon captain Rigobert Song - who had missed his spotkick in the shoot-out - could not hide his relief afterwards.
"I am a lucky captain," the former Liverpool and West Ham defender told reporters. "It`s the second time that I`ve won this tournament as captain of the team - I just hope we can keep the atmosphere going to the World Cup."
While Cameroon celebrated, Senegal`s deflated boss Bruno Metsu was gracious in defeat.
"Cameroon are the champions of Africa," the Frenchman said bluntly. "We didn`t deserve to lose, but I wish I was in Schafer`s shoes.
"We just have to go away and keep working hard," he added.
Senegal`s striking hope Al-Hadji Diouf, who had a disappointing afternoon culminating in a missed penalty in the shoot out, said Cameroon were worthy winners.
"The best team won today," Diouf said. "We`re a bit disappointed. We just have to go away and focus on the World Cup," he said.
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