ACTUALITE |
14.10.2005
Lions no longer Indomitable ?
By Martin Davies
It is twenty years since Cameroon last failed to qualify for a World Cup finals.
Yet Saturday`s 1-1 draw at home to Egypt, coupled with Ivory Coast`s victory in Sudan, means almost-forgotten feelings are being awoken.
In the preceding two decades, the Indomitable Lions have left their mark not only on the nation, nor indeed Africa, but on the whole global game..
When people in Cameroon last felt this feeling of gloom and despondency at missing out, Paul Biya was already president but striker Samuel Eto`o Fils had only been walking for a couple of years, never mind running around scoring goals.
Since their second finals appearance at Italy 1990, the Lions have become Africa`s `dependables` - a name people from around the globe can look for as World Cup fever builds.
Francois Oman-Biyik`s winning goal against Argentina in the opening game of the 1990 World Cup was the first step in alerting the world to sub-Saharan Africa`s football promise.
This was the first victory by a black African nation at a World Cup finals, don`t forget.
During those heady weeks of June 1990, it was Roger Milla who became the household name and Africa`s most famous football as he lit up Italia `90.
Over the next years, the momentum of this World Cup reputation carried them forward.
With two further World Cup appearances under their belts, the Lions added a third Nations Cup and a first Olympic gold medal in the year 2000.
Two years later, the Lions went on to secure a joint-record fourth Nations Cup crown and allied to these successes were World Cup qualifications in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Now though, the team that did not know defeat is feeling glum. The Lions` tails are between their legs as they have to contemplate a World Cup without them.
One avid football fan, Clement Ndansa in Yaounde, told BBC Sport on Monday that he was so disappointed with the failure to qualify that he had been unable to eat since Saturday`s game.
With just three months to the Nations Cup, speculation will mount that some of the old guard will call it a day without the incentive of a World Cup to follow.
Raymond Kalla, back from retirement for Saturday`s disaster and the previous game with Ivory Coast, is one name that is unlikely to feature again.
Anger as Lions fail to qualify
Cameroonian fans` disgust at failing to secure victory resulted in the players staying out of sight of the supporters for two hours for their own safety after the game.
But in the government-owned newspaper, the Cameroon Tribute, striker Achille Webo claimed that winning the Nations Cup in January in Egypt would be the side`s only possible consolation for this World Cup exit.
Sometimes history can repeat itself: Cameroon`s last World Cup qualifying failure also came after a 1-1 draw at home was not enough.
In 1985, Zambia were the opponents and went through in a knock competition 5-2 on aggregate before getting knocked out themselves in the next round to eventual qualifiers Algeria.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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