13 February 2002
Cameroon are hoping their African Nations Cup triumph will serve as springboard for greater glory on the global stage at this summer's World Cup.
The 'Indomitable Lions' underscored their superiority in Africa on Sunday, becoming the first side for 27 years to successfully defend the Nations Cup with a win over Senegal.
Now the Olympic champions - who are drawn against Germany, Republic of Ireland and Saudi Arabia at the World Cup - have set their sights on emulating the Roger Milla-led Cameroon campaign of Italy 1990.
That vintage team reached the quarter-finals and stood only minutes away from the last four before eventually losing 3-2 to England in extra-time.
Cameroon believe they can upset either Germany or the Irish in South Korea, and have warned their opponents to under-estimate them at their peril.
"We've done very well in Africa in the past three or four years and now there is a feeling in the team that we want to show the world what we can do," said midfielder Marc Vivien-Foe.
"When anybody talks about Cameroon and the World Cup they always talk about 1990. It would be great if this generation of players could be remembered like that," the Lyon and former West Ham player said.
"We're in a tough group but we won't be scared of anyone. We'd be happy if Germany or Ireland thought we were going to be easy because that would be a mistake," he said.
Meanwhile Senegal are confident heading into their first World Cup after a campaign that saw them confirm their status as African football's rising force.
The Senegalese will open the World Cup against defending champions France in Seoul on May 31, with Uruguay and Denmark also in Group A.
Midfielder Salif Diao believes Senegal are capable of making a big impact at their first World Cup. "The team is confident and we have come a long way together in only a short space of time," Diao said.
"Even though we lost the final, I think we got stronger with every game. If we continue to improve then we can do well in Korea," he said.
But while Senegal and Cameroon can look ahead to the World Cup in a positive frame of mind, the three other teams who will represent Africa in Japan and South Korea must go back to the drawing board.
Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia all had a Nations Cup to forget.
For Nigeria - drawn in the World Cup's 'Group of Death' against England, Argentina and Sweden - it was a familiar story, with the Super Eagles talented squad once again failing to gel convincingly as a team.
The fragile state of morale in the Nigerian camp was exposed in the wake of their semi-final exit to Senegal, with players lining up to blame authorities in Lagos for damaging team spirit.
Only coach Shaibu Amodu - expected to be dumped before the World Cup - appeared to be willing to put his hand up and take blame for the exit.
"I will take full responsibility for our performance in Mali because I assembled the team. I am not making any excuses," Amodu told AFP.
"It would have been great going to the World Cup as African champions. But it was not to be and it is not the end of the world."
If Amodu is axed before Nigeria's campaign, then he may well be joined as a spectator by Tunisia coach Henri Michel.(ACONS)
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