12 February 2002
THOUSANDS of fans turned out before dawn on Monday to greet the victorious Cameroun team after they defeated Senegal on Sunday to win the African Nations Cup for a record fourth time.
They won a dramatic penalty shootout 3-2 after the match had ended goalless at the end of extra-time.
The Indomitable Lions arrived at Yaounde s international airport at 5.30 a.m. (0430 GMT) to a reception from some 5,000 supporters and were then cheered by thousands of excited fans lining the road as the team travelled the 23km to the capital.
The victory celebrations began on Sunday evening as people poured out into the streets beating drums, dancing and chanting to the "Kings of African football". By happy coincidence, Monday is also National Youth Day in Cameroun, a public holiday.
In a brief welcome speech Higher Education minister Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara said the team had brought joy, emotion and pride to the nation and that the victory in Mali s capital heralded many more good things to come.
By winning in Mali after the tense penalty shoot-out, Cameroun join Egypt and Ghana in a select group of three countries that have won the trophy four times and also retained the cup in successive tournaments, a feat last achieved by Ghana in 1965.
Defender Geremi Fotso Njitap, who plays for Spanish giants Real Madrid, told reporters on Monday that the Indomitable Lions never at any moment doubted that victory would be theirs.
"We re a united, ambitious and focused team. What s more we ve been playing together for four years," Geremi said, although he admitted that it was a hard-won victory as Senegal stretched them to their limits.
Cameroun s German coach German Winfried Schafer brought his team of European-based stars through the Nations Cup finals without conceding a goal and will now set his sights on the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
Current Olympic champions and the only African side ever to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, Cameroun have been drawn against Germany, Ireland and Saudi Arabia.
The mood in Senegal s capital of Dakar was decidedly muted as many in the West African country had firmly believed the team would crown its first World Cup qualification by also winning the Nations Cup for the first time.
Massed in front of television screens throughout the capital, Senegalese greeted the loss with a long silence before small groups of people eventually descended into the streets to share their bitterness over the defeat.
"I was very confident. Right up until the end of the match I had never even doubted that the team would win," said Alioune Sall, a youngster in one of Dakar s suburbs.
"My friends and I had already got a sound system and chairs together ready to throw a party to celebrate our victory."
Senegal, coached by Frenchman Bruno Metsu and made up almost entirely of French-based professionals, will face France in the opening match of the World Cup on May 31 before taking on Denmark and Uruguay.
Senegal s President Abdoulaye Wade urged a disappointed nation to keep their faith in the team.
"It s true that there was great hope, but those who are disappointed are wrong to be so. The team showed great qualities and that it is a team to be reckoned with," he said, promising the players an unspecified reward for their efforts.(ACONS)
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