11 February 2002
THE Indomitable Lions of Cameroun yesterday in Bamako defended the African Nations Cup they won two years ago to join Egypt and Ghana as the only countries that have won the title four times.
They also went into the record books as the third country after Egypt and Ghana that has won the trophy back to back. Egypt defended the title successfully in 1959 while Ghana equaled the feat in 1965.
Cameroun were stretched to the full by a hungry and aggressive Senegal propelled by El Hadji Diouf with both sides fluffing many of the chances that came their way.
The Senegalese have their goalkeeper Marion Sylva to thank for taking the game into penalty shoot out as a last ditch effort by the Camerounians to wrap up the game in the 120th minute was stopped by him.
Pierre Wome gave Camerounians both in the stadium and across the globe some goose pimples when he shot the first spot kick into the hands of Sylva.
Captain Rigobert Song threw away an advantage to close the game as his shot was again stopped by Sylva to allow the Senegalese who were trailing by a goal to level up and throw the shoot out into sudden death.
His Senegalese opposite, Cisse would however not allow this and in the process threw his colleagues especially Diouf into uncontrollable sobbing as he shot the ball against the body of Boukar Alioum in goal for Cameroun.
In 2000 in Lagos, the Camerounians won also by penalty, albeit controversially as Victor Ikpeba s goal was ruled no goal by Tunisian referee Mourad Daami.
With yesterday s victory, Cameroun who won the Unity Cup for keeps two years ago, go into history as the first winner of the new trophy which CAF has ruled would not be won for keeps as only a replica would be given to any team that perform the feat of three victories.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria had on Saturday piped host, Mali 1-0 to pick the bronze medal after they had fallen 1-2 to Senegal in the semi-finals.(ACONS)
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