Cameroon´s Eto´o wants to halt Egypt humiliation

January 24, 2010

Cameroon skipper Samuel Eto’o has said he wants his team to beat Egypt in Monday’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal here and bring to an end a poor run against the defending champions.

In the past five years, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have only managed a draw at home with Egypt, who have won the three other clashes between the two teams.

“We will fight and do our best because they have humiliated us for some time now, but I’m not God to say we will win,” said Eto’o at a press conference here on Sunday.

“I have always tried to give the best of myself in every game and that’s what I will do against Egypt.

“We have a squad of capable players, who are all here to defend the national colours. No player is here on a holiday and we will continue to work hard and stay focused.”

Egypt were forced to a draw by Cameroon in a decisive 2006 World Cup qualifier in 2005, paving the way for the Ivory Coast to qualify for their first-ever World Cup, while at the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, the Pharaohs beat Cameroon 4-2 in a group game before they again defeated them 1-0 in the tournament final.

“Cameroon did not not go to the 2006 World Cup in Germany because of Egypt, but because of Cameroon: we did not score the last-minute penalty to take us there,” argued the Inter Milan striker, who added that he has fulfilled his promise to qualify the team to the last eight of the competition.

“And we would have won the final of the last Nations Cup after they beat us 4-2 in our first match of the tournament.

“Egypt are an experienced team, but on Monday it will be 11 players against 11 players and so we have to run faster than the Egyptians to win. No Egyptian player has four legs.”

Cameroon coach Paul Le Guen said he has been worried that his team have let in early goals in their group match in Lubango.

“My concern is that at the start of our group matches, we conceded three early goals and it was difficult to come back after these goals,” acknowledged the former Lyon coach.

“But I am satisfied with the team spirit. This is the most important thing and it is getting better and better.”

The four-time champions had to come back against Zambia to win with a late goal, while they forced Tunisia to a 2-2 draw in an all-important final group game after going down within a minute.

BENGUELA, Angola (AFP)

Tags: 2006 world cup in germany, Africa, africa cup of nations, Angola, cameroon, capable players, clashes, coach paul, egyptian player, egyptians, experienced team, ghana, group game, indomitable lions, inter milan, Lyon, national colours, nations cup, Paul Le, paul le guen, paving the way, pharaohs, striker, Tunisia, world cup qualifier, Zambia

Star skipper Eto’o backs his Cameroon fighters

January 21, 2010

African superstar Samuel Eto’o is banking on fighting spirit driving Cameroon into the Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Thursday.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ tackle fellow former champions Tunisia at the new 20,000-seat Tundavala Stadium in this southern Angola town and the stakes are sky high.

Victory for four-time title holders Cameroon over the ‘Carthage Eagles’ and they are definitely through to the last-eight phase of the biennial African football showcase.

A draw might suffice, depending on what happens between leaders Gabon and lowly Zambia at Ombaka Stadium in Benguela; a loss will condemn one of the pre-tournament title favourites to a humiliating early exit.

But three-time African Footballer of the Year and Inter Milan striker Eto’o says the thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Zambia last Sunday rekindled his pride in the national team.

“I was so proud to be Cameroonian that night, to be part of a team that displayed so much character and could rise to the occasion in the most difficult of situations,” said the ‘Lions’ captain.

“It was a very difficult match for us with Zambia playing so well and defeat stared us in the face midway through the second half, but we fought on knowing the implications of not securing maximum points.”

The striker who succeeded long-serving defender Rigobert Song as skipper when French coach Paul Le Guen took control last August, played a central role in the recovery by scoring the second goal with a trademark clinical finish.

And Eto’o, who helped Cameroon conquer Africa in 2000 and 2002, and is the leading all-time Cup of Nations scorer with 17 goals, has reason to be hopeful against a Tunisian side that must triumph to survive the group-phase cull.

The countries have clashed three times in the 53-year Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-1 stalemate in 1982 followed by Cameroon victories in a 2000 semi-final and a 2008 quarter-final.

It was 3-0 in Nigeria 10 years ago and 3-2 after extra time in Ghana two years ago after one of greatest games of a great tournament was settled by a Stephane Mbia strike on 92 minutes.

This Nations Cup may have kicked off with Ivory Coast the almost unanimous media favourites, but few rejected the possibility that Cameroon could go all the way and come within one title of six-time champions Egypt.

Captain and defender Karim Haggui accepts Tunisia came into the Cup wearing a work-in-progress tag as caretaker coach Faouzi Benzarti put his faith in youth after a shock failure to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“We have a young team in Angola that is improving with every game. Chances were missed in our draws against Zambia and Gabon due to inexperience,” confessed the sole survivor of the 2004 Cup-winning squad.

“However, the outcome of this group is far from settled. We still have to face Cameroon and a win takes us through to the knockout stage,” added the 25-year-old ‘veteran’ of the ‘Eagles’ squad.

LUBANGO, Angola (AFP)

Tags: africa cup of nations, african football, african footballer of the year, angola town, cameroon, Carthage, coach paul, early exit, fighting spirit, french coach, Gabon, ghana, greatest games, group phase, indomitable lions, inter milan, Ivory Coast, Karim Haggui, maximum points, Milan, nigeria, Ombaka Stadium, Paul Le, paul le guen, quarter finals, samuel eto, South Africa, southern angola, time in ghana, time title, Tundavala Stadium, Tunisia, Zambia

Cameroon edge Zambia in Cup of Nations thriller

January 18, 2010

Cameroon edged Zambia 3-2 in an Africa Cup of Nations Group D thriller at Tundavala Stadium on Sunday to revive hopes of winning the tournament for a fifth time.

Substitute Mohamadou Idrissou headed the 86th-minute winner to complete a late scoring flurry in which Cameroon struck twice within five minutes to snatch the lead only for Zambia to level from a penalty.

Geremi and Samuel Eto’o were the other marksmen for the winners while Jacob Mulenga gave Zambia an early lead and captain Christopher Katongo levelled from a spotkick with nine minutes left.

Gabon, who fought out a dour goalless draw with Tunisia in the first half of a double header, lead the pool with four points. Cameroon have three, Tunisia two and Zambia one ahead of the final mini-league fixtures next Thursday.

“We can become better, but we started from a low base,” commented coach Paul Le Guen, who took over Cameroon when they were last in their World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group.

The former Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain and Rangers boss added: “We found ourselves in difficulty here because Zambia play really well. The first half was very tough for us. Afterwards things got better but I know they’re good and that we were fortunate to win and to take the three points.”

The Frenchman made two changes from the team shocked 1-0 by Gabon in their opening match, with midfielder Stephane Mbia and striker Tchoyi Somen replacing Landry Nguemo and Achille Webo.

Zambia, also coached by a Frenchman in Herve Renard, stuck with the side that led Tunisia before having to settle for a 1-1 draw in a match they could easily have won.

The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets) needed no incentive to beat the Indomitable Lions, having suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat against them at the same stage of the last Nations Cup in Ghana two years ago.

Renard had warned his squad that there is nothing more dangerous than a wounded lion and they heeded his advice by snapping at the feet of their more illustrious opponents from the kick-off.

The in-your-face approach of a country trying to reach the second round for the first time since 1996 paid off after only eight minutes when Netherlands-based Mulenga struck.

This goal once again exposed Cameroon as a team prone to slapstick defending, with a careless Geremi pass intercepted by Felix Katongo, who burst past the veteran defender and crossed from the left.

Rigobert Song, another long-serving defender who was held responsible for the Gabon goal, headed the ball against his goalkeeper Carlos Kameni as he attempted to avert danger and the rebound fell to Mulenga who tapped it home.

Cameroon boasted an attack starring three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o, but Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene was not tested until the 36th minute when he reacted swiftly to push away a Jean Makoun drive.

A double save from Kameni soon after saved Cameroon from falling further behind as he parried a Rainford Kalaba free-kick and got up quickly to foil Katongo, who reached the rebound first.

The second-half goal deluge began on 68 minutes when an innocuous Geremi cross from the touchline crept under the body of Mweene into the far corner before Eto’o blocked a clearance to fire his team in front four minutes later.

Katongo equalised when Mulenga was sent flying by Kameni only for Idrissou to soar above Stoppila Sunzu and head wide of Mweene to give Cameroon their third triumph over Zambia in four Nations Cup clashes.

LUBANGO, Angola (AFP)

Tags: achille webo, africa cup of nations, Angola, cameroon, captain Christopher Katongo, carlos kameni, coach paul, double header, Felix Katongo, fifth time, Gabon, geremi, Germain, ghana, herve renard, indomitable lions, jacob mulenga, jean makoun, Lyon, marksmen, mbia, minute winner, nations cup, nations group, netherlands, PARIS, paris saint germain, Paul Le, paul le guen, qualifying group, rangers, samuel eto, samuel eto o, somen, stephane mbia, Tundavala Stadium, Zambia

Cameroon 0-1 Gabon: Title favorites Cameroon handed shock defeat

January 14, 2010

Four-time African Cup of Nations champions Cameroon were handed a 1-0 shock defeat by Gabon thanks to a 17th minute Daniel Cousin strike.

The two sides had earlier met in World Cup qualifying, and in both the matches, home and away fixtures, Cameroon ran out as victors as they secured their place in South Africa.

Cameroonian forward Achille Emana was first to test Gabonese goalkeeper Ovono Ebang but it would be Ovono’s counterpart Carlos Kameni picking up the ball from the Cameroonian goal mid-way through first half.

Hull City striker Cousin would capitalise on poor defending to strike home a well-placed shot.

Cameroon piled on the pressure in the second half, with Emana and an under-par Samuel Eto’o coming close.

But Gabon goalkeeper Ebang’s solid display kept Cameroon at bay.

The result sees Gabon go top of a group that also includes Zambia and Tunisia, while Paul Le Guen’s World Cup qualifying side will have much to do in their remaining two group games.

Tags: african cup of nations, cameroon, carlos kameni, counterpart, daniel cousin, ebang, Gabon, Goalkeeper, group games, hull city, mid way, Paul Le, paul le guen, samuel eto, samuel eto o, second half, shock defeat, South Africa, striker, Tunisia, victors, World Cup, Zambia

Cameroon star Eto´o sends painful warning to Gabon

January 13, 2010

Star striker Samuel Eto’o says Cameroon are set to inflict more pain on neighbours Gabon when they clash Wednesday in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The central Africa countries came face to face twice within four days last September in qualifiers for the 2010 Angola tournament and a Cameroon team revitalised by French coach Paul le Guen triumphed home and away.

Inter Milan goal poacher Eto’o scored in Libreville and Yaounde and says his Nations Cup targets are to lead Cameroon to a fifth title and beat the individual goal record for one tournament.

Cameroon expect to win a mini-league completed by Tunisia and Zambia and have been widely grouped with defending champions Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria as the biggest threats to Cup favourites Ivory Coast.

Mulamba Ndaye from the Democratic Republic of Congo set a nine-goal record at the 1974 tournament in Egypt and while Eto’o has been leading scorer at the 2006 and 2008 editions, he managed only five each time.

Captain Eto’o and his Indomitable Lions launch their campaign at the new 20,000-seat Chinese-built Tundavala Stadium in this southern town in the first half of a double-header completed by 2004 champions Tunisia against Zambia.

“Our nickname has plenty of significance. The lion symbolises someone who wants to command territory, earn respect and be feared. We will do our best to become kings of Africa,” Eto’o told reporters.

“The coach united us at a difficult time last year when we had to win games. He is a great psychologist and a great coach with modern ideas. We are thrilled that his contract has been renewed.

“We are playing as a unit which explains our run of victories in the qualifying competition and are ready to challenge Ghana, Ivory Coast and Nigeria for the title.”

Eto’o, midfielders Jean Makoun and Alexandre Song, veteran defender Rigobert Song and goalkeeper Idriss Kameni form the core of a Cameroon team seeking to emulate their compatriots of 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002 and conquer Africa.

While Cameron boast stars like Eto’o who are household names throughout the continent, out-of-favour Hull City striker Daniel Cousin is probably the best known Gabon footballer because of his English Premiership connection.

Opposing Le Guen will be compatriot Alain Giresse, who formed a magical France midfield quartet with Michel Platini, Jean Tigana and Luis Fernandez during the 1980s.

And he does not harbour fond memories of Cameroon with the Nations Cup qualifying losses coming after an equally painful defeat by their neighbours in the first edition of the African Nations Championship for local footballers.

Giresse resigned amid media and public fury after a Libreville loss eliminated Gabon from the qualifiers only to alter his decision following discussions with a sympathetic government minister.

LUBANGO, Angola (AFP)

Tags: africa countries, africa cup of nations, Angola, coach paul, cup favourites, Democratic Republic, democratic republic of congo, double header, french coach, indomitable lions, inter milan, Ivory Coast, Jean Tigana, libreville, michel platini, midfielders, paul le guen, republic of congo, revitalised, samuel eto o, star striker, time captain

Le Guen leads contenders Cameroon to Angola

January 8, 2010

French coach Paul Le Guen looms large over a Cameroon team capable of winning a fifth African Nations Cup title in Angola this month.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ are in Lubango-based Group D with Gabon, Tunisia and Zambia and the widespread view in the media is that the 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002 winners will top the table with a scramble for the runners-up slot.

Assuming they reach the quarter-finals, Cameroon would most likely face title holders and six-time champions Egypt or Nigeria with the former the preferred opponent given the desire for revenge.

Cameroon suffered two losses to Egypt at the 2008 Nations Cup in Ghana, 4-2 in an opening-round group match and 1-0 in the final with a mistake by veteran defender Rigobert Song leading to the Mohamed Aboutraika winner.

By the middle of last year the Lions had descended from Nations Cup silver medalists to a team in danger of not even making it to the first tournament staged by a Portuguese-speaking country.

Veteran German coach Otto Pfister quit after his assistant was fired and former national goalkeeper Thomas ‘Black Spider’ Nkono watched horrified as struggling Morocco forced a goalless draw in Yaounde.

Enter Le Guen, a stern, do-it-my-way 45-year-old with a proud pedigree topped by three consecutive French Ligue 1 titles with Lyon, on a short-term contract and his impact was immediate.

Seemingly ageless central defender Rigobert Song was the major casualty, losing his place in the starting line-up, and the captaincy to Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o.

Song eventually fought his way back into an injury-hit defence while Eto’o led Cameroon to victories over Gabon (twice), Togo and Morocco that ensured qualification for Angola and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Spain-based striker Achille Webo was recalled in another significant change and now Cameroon are being mentioned alongside Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Egypt as potential winners of the January 31 Luanda final.

Down the years, Cameroon have always had a strong core and it remains today with goalkeeper Idriss Kameni, Song, midfielder Jean Makoun and three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o.

Add a strong supporting cast plus the touchline insight of Le Guen and the wish of the Cameroon sports minister for a Yaounde victory parade early next month may well come true.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, Angola, black spider, cameroon, central defender, coach paul, Egypt, french coach, french ligue 1, Gabon, german coach, ghana, indomitable lions, inter milan, ivory coast ghana, jean makoun, Luanda, Lyon, Milan, morocco, nigeria, o song, otto pfister, paul le guen, quarter finals, samuel eto, samuel eto o, silver medalists, South Africa, Spain, starting line, Thomas, time champions, Togo, YAOUNDE, Zambia

Strong French presence at African Nations Cup

January 5, 2010

There will be a strong French presence amongst the coaches at the African Nations Cup this month for the second consecutive tournament with five of the 16 in Angola hailing from the European state.

There were also five French handlers at the 2008 edition in Ghana although none survived to be involved in the first showcase of African football staged by a Portuguese-speaking country.

Jean-Francois Jodar (Mali), Roger Lemerre (Tunisia), Henri Michel (Morocco), Robert Nouzaret (Guinea) and Claude le Roy (Ghana) were the French representatives at the previous tournament.

And in Angola it will be the turn of Michel Dussuyer (Benin), Alain Giresse (Gabon), Paul le Guen (Cameroon), Herve Renard (Zambia) and Hubert Velud (Togo) to try and become the fourth French creator of champions.

Le Roy, a striking figure with flowing blond locks and now in charge of Oman, guided the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the 1998 Casablanca final.

Lesser known Pierre Lechantre was next to succeed, also with Cameroon, in 2000 and once again the runners-up were Nigeria after a Lagos penalty shoot-out.

Lemerre completed a unique double in 2004 when he lifted the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia to the top four years after steering France to the Euro title with a golden-goal triumph over Italy.

Le Guen, a French Ligue 1 title winner with Lyon, is well placed to succeed in Angola while his four compatriots will struggle to get their adopted countries beyond the first round.

Disciplinarian Le Guen inherited a mess when he took over Cameroon in the middle of last year from former national team goalkeeper Thomas ‘Black Spider’ N’Kono, who lasted just one game after unpopular German Otto Pfister quit.

The 45-year-old Frenchman elevated Inter Milan striker and three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o to captain and predecessor, veteran central defender Rigobert Song, was axed from the starting line-up.

His bold moves paid off with Cameroon defeating Gabon in Libreville and Yaounde inside four days to rise from the bottom to the top of a 2010 World Cup-Nations Cup qualifying group.

Further wins at home to Togo and away to Morocco assured the Indomitable Lions not only of a place in Angola, but a record sixth appearance by an African country at the World Cup when South Africa stages the 2010 tournament.

Coaches from Portugal, Nigeria (two each), Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Malawi, Netherlands, Serbia and Tunisia complete the line-up for the January 10-31 Nations Cup in Luanda, Benguela, Cabinda and Lubango.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: african footballer of the year, african nations cup, alain giresse, algeria, blond locks, Bosnia, cameroon, Claude, claude le roy, consecutive tournament, euro title, footballer of the year, France, french ligue 1, french representatives, Guinea, henri michel, herve renard, hubert velud, indomitable lions of cameroon, Inter, inter milan, Italy, LAGOS, libreville, Luanda, Michel Dussuyer, morocco, netherlands, nigeria, otto pfister, paul le guen, pierre lechantre, portugal, Robert Nouzaret, roger lemerre, samuel eto, samuel eto o, South Africa, Thomas, Zambia

Cameroon coast to record sixth World Cup appearance

November 14, 2009

Cameroon coasted to a 2-0 win in Morocco Saturday and clinched a record sixth appearance for an African team at the World Cup.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ took a one-point lead over Gabon into the final round of Group A fixtures and stretched it to four by full-time as their only rivals for a place at the 2010 finals in South Africa fell 1-0 away to Togo.

Achille Webo put Cameroon ahead on 18 minutes in Fes and three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o added a second soon after half-time against a poor Moroccan team.

Qualification was a personal triumph for French coach Paul Le Guen, who took over last August from German Otto Pfister with Cameroon bottom of the table having secured just one point from two outings.

But the highly successful former Lyon coach steered the four-time African champions to four consecutive victories and top place with 13 points followed by Gabon (nine), Togo (eight) and Morocco (three).

Cameroon booked a passage to South Africa a few hours after Nigeria topped Group B by winning 3-2 in Kenya and they join South Africa, automatic qualifiers as hosts, Ghana and Ivory Coast as African representatives.

Egypt or Algeria, who clash later Saturday at the Cairo Stadium, will fill the remaining place.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: achille, african champions, african footballer of the year, automatic qualifiers, cairo stadium, coach paul, consecutive victories, fes, footballer of the year, french coach, indomitable lions, Ivory Coast, moroccan team, otto pfister, paul le guen, personal triumph, rivals, samuel eto o, sixth appearance, world cup appearance

Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Tunisia target WC

October 10, 2009

Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Tunisia could qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa this weekend.

Ivory Coast need one point at bottom-of-the-table Malawi Saturday in Group E to clinch a second successive appearance at the quadrennial international football showpiece.

But the other three potential qualifiers need help if they are to realise the ultimate dream of every footballer and feature at the first World Cup hosted by Africa.

Algeria, who last played at the finals 23 years ago, can clinch top spot in Group C by securing a better result at home to Rwanda Sunday than African Nations Cup holders Egypt away to Zambia Saturday.

Cameroon, revitalised since the recent arrival of French coach Paul le Guen, will take an unassailable lead in Group A if they defeat Togo at home Saturday and Morocco triumph at second-placed Gabon the same day.

And Tunisia could qualify a record-equalling fourth consecutive time for an African team by beating Kenya in Rades Sunday if Nigeria do not collect maximum points when hosting Kenya in the other Group B fixture at the same time.

The other slot allocated to Africa has been filled by Ghana with Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien scoring the first goal in a 2-0 home victory over Sudan that assured an unassailable Group D advantage.

South Africa, who play friendlies in Norway Saturday and Iceland Tuesday, qualify automatically as hosts, giving Africa six finalists out of 32 for the first time.

Ivory Coast have been hard hit by injuries ahead of their match at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, losing Manchester City defender Kolo Toure, midfielder Cheik Tiote and strikers Kader Keita and Boubacar Sanogo.

But Chelsea strikers Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are available and the ‘Elephants’ should take at least one point off rivals they beat 5-0 last March in an Abidjan game marred by 20 overcrowding-related fatalities.

Hassan Yebda, scorer of the lone goal at Wolves last weekend that gave Portsmouth a first English Premiership victory of the season, and fellow midfielder Djamel Abdoune have received first call-ups from Algeria.

The France-born duo are the latest to benefit from a FIFA ruling allowing footballers to switch national allegiance after representing their country of origin at age-limit level.

Le Guen, who guided Lyon to four French titles in a row before experiencing less success with Glasgow Rangers and PSG, took Cameroon from the bottom to the top of Group A with home and away victories over Gabon last month.

His bold moves included demoting veteran defender and skipper Rigobert Song to the bench, giving Inter Milan star and three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o the armband, and recalling Spain-based striker Achille Webo.

Tunisia stayed two points ahead of Nigeria after snatching a 2-2 draw in Abuja last month and Portuguese coach Humberto Coelho has brought back France-born strikers Lassaad Nouioui and Jamel Saihi.

Germany-born coach Antoine Hey, who has managed just one win 10 2010 World Cup qualifiers with Liberia and Kenya, omitted best known striker Dennis Oliech for the match in Rades.

The final round of African fixtures is scheduled for Saturday November 14 and after tense climaxes to the last few World Cup qualifying tournaments, it would be a shock if all five places had already been filled.

While the five group winners go to South Africa for the June 11 to July 11 World Cup, the top three in each mini-league secure places at the 2010 African Nations Cup from January 10-31 in Angola.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, boubacar sanogo, city defender, coach paul, consecutive time, Drogba, french coach, home victory, international football, Ivory Coast, kader keita, lone goal, maximum points, Michael Essien, paul le guen, rades, recent arrival, revitalised, Salomon Kalou, showpiece

African teams vie to complete W.Cup line-up

September 7, 2009

Cameroon, Tunisia, Algeria and Ivory Coast are looking good to join Ghana and hosts South Africa and complete the African line-up at the 2010 World Cup.

Ghana become the first African team to secure a place at the first World Cup to be staged on the ‘Dark Continent’ with a 2-0 triumph win over Sudan in Accra at the weekend courtesy of goals from Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien.

Cameroon, Algeria and Ivory Coast also took maximum points during the fourth series of games in the final qualifying round while Tunisia hit back twice to force a 2-2 draw with Nigeria.

The impact of recently hired French coach Paul le Guen on Cameroon has been immediate and if the ‘Indomitable Lions’ defeat Gabon for the second time in five days Wednesday they will become Group A leaders.

Not bad for a team that fell in Togo, lost German coach Otto Pfister and managed only a goalless home draw with Morocco under caretaker Thomas N’knono before Le Guen answered a distress signal.

This mini-league is the tightest of the five with three points separating pacesetters Gabon from bottom team Morocco and if Cameroon can win their two remaining home fixtures it could be sufficient.

After tackling Gabon, the ‘Lions’ host Togo on October 10 before visting Morocco the following month as they seek a record sixth World Cup appearance by an African country.

Le Guen, winner of three consecutive French titles with Lyon this decade, gambled by dropping long-serving defender Rigobert Song and passing the captaincy to star striker Samuel Eto’o.

The results speak for themselves with a 2-0 friendly win in Austria followed by another two-goal triumph last Saturday in Libreville via goals from Achille Emana and three-time African Footballer of the Year Eto’o.

Tunisia can clinch Group B honours if they beat Kenya at home and Mozambique away, an achievement that will be hard for Nigerians to accept after their shock failure to reach the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Nigeria have the same opponents with a visit from Mozambique followed by a journey to Kenya and if there is a glimmer of hope it would be that a fixture in Nairobi is probably easier than one in Maputo.

Banker may be a dangerous word to use in the unpredictable world of football, but it surely applies to Ivory Coast, who need one point from encounters with Malawi (away) and Guinea (home) to top Group E.

The Ivorian ‘Elephants’ share with Ghana a 100 percent record after four rounds and having routed Malawi 5-0 in Abidjan last March, there is no reason to doubt that they can take at least one point from Blantyre next month.

It looks like African champions Egypt will have to defeat Zambia (away) and Group C leaders Algeria (home) to have any hope of reaching South Africa as they trail their fierce North African rivals by three points.

This race may not even go to Cairo in mid-November because it seems far more likely that Algeria will defeat visiting Rwanda next month than Egypt will achieve a similar result in Zambia.

The five group winners qualify for the World Cup between June 11 and July 11 while the top three finishers in each mini-league go the African Nations Cup in Angola five months earlier.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)