Nigeria is the only African country in the soccer semi-finals of the Olympic Games after Cameroon's elimination by Brazil in the quarterfinals.
Cameroon went down 0-2 in a match in which Brazil took its revenge four years after the "Indomitable Lions" defeated the South American team at the Sydney games.
In its quarterfinal match, Nigeria emerged the winner of a fratricidal African duel against Côte d'Ivoire by skillfully using its experience and power against an Ivorian team that offers much promise for the future.
In a game that started at full speed, the players of coach Samson Siasia tried to impose their pace on Salomon Kalou and his team. However both teams held fast throughout the first half until Nigeria found a weakness in the Ivorian camp two minutes before the break.
In an attack initiated by Anyekachi Apam, captain Obinna Nsofor surprised the Ivorian defence by sending a golden pass to Osaze Odemwinge, enabling the former Lille striker to send a powerful shot into the Ivoirian goal (1-0, 43rd minute). Nigeria's "Dream Team IV" returned to the locker room with a one-goal advantage.
During the second half, Côte d'Ivoire tried everything with a more focused Gervinho, but each time coach Gerard Gili's men couldn't find a way past the Nigerian midfield.
As in the first half, the Nigerians used the last few minutes of play to increase their lead. Nsofor scored his third goal of the tournament in a penalty kick, awarded after a foul on Souleymane Bamba Obasi Ogbuke (2-0, 81st minute).
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Nigeria now plays Belgium, a surprising winner over Italy.
Cameroon's lack of luck
The young Cameroonian team set out to follow in the footsteps of their 2004 predecessors by eliminating Brazil, but this time Ronaldinho would triumph instead.
The Cameroonians started the game under pressure to do well, which made a number of them nervous. First Albert Banning got a yellow card, then another and he was sent off.
With only ten men against Brazil's eleven, Cameroon became vulnerable, even more so because of an injury sustained by Stephane Mbia, one of the team's pillars.
Also, the Slovenian referee seemed too prone to blow his whistle against the Lions, awarding 57 fouls and 12 yellow cards in total, most of which against them.
It was thus logical that Brazil prevailed by 2 goals to 0 in extra time, thanks to Rafael Sobis (101st minute) and Marcelo (105th minute).
Although Cameroon's dream of winning a second gold medal died, its players had come a long way in a tournament that started with grumbling over unpaid bonuses.
