Cameroon wins football title and first ever gold
30 September 2000
The 'Indomitable Lions' of Cameroon lived up their nickname in a thrilling
final against nine-man Spain on Saturday, clawing back a two-goal deficit to
win the nation's first ever Olympic gold medal in a penalty shoot-out.
The match had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes and a scoreless golden goal
extra time period.
Cameroon's win also continues Africa's good run in the Olympic tournament -
Nigeria won it in 1996 - and again shows the amount of prodigious young
talent that the continent is producing.
African legend, Roger Milla, played on Cameroon's Olympic team in Los
Angeles in 1994 and this current crop includes several young players who
could inherit his mantle of greatness.
Strikers Patrick Mboma and Samuel Etoo showed some magical skills while
16-year-old Idriss Kameni became the youngest footballer ever to win a gold
medal after a confident display in goal.
Coach Jean-Paul Akono said afterwards: "This is a culmination of a very long
career for our players. It was an excellent score for us and getting the
gold medal was absolutely wonderful."
It looked as if he might have to be content with a silver after just two
minutes when Spain's player of the tournament, Xavi of Barcelona, converted
a free kick that left the young Kameni motionless in the centre of goal.
Spain almost doubled the lead couple of minutes later when Jose Mari again
got behind the Cameroon defence.
Arsenal's Lauren Mayer tripped him just on the edge of the area but as the
Spanish striker fell forwards across the line, Mexican referee Ramos Rizo
pointed to the penalty spot.
Justice was done and Kameni's reputation restored when he dived to his right
to easily save Angulo's weak penalty attempt. The crowd were now very much
on the side of the underdog as the chant of 'Cameroon, Cameroon' went up
around the stadium.
The Africans made continuous forays forwards in search of a goal but,
despite surrendering a lot of possession, the Spanish defence held firm and
Aranzubia was rarely troubled.
Just before half-time, substitute Gabri further exploited the gaps in the
Cameroon defence and looked to have sent the Spanish to the victory podium
when he put them two up.
Immediately after the restart, Cameroon signalled its intent when Serge
Branco fired in a shot from 20 metres that was just touched over the bar by
Aranzubia.
The breakthrough finally came in the 53rd minute when Mboma dribbled goal
wards from the right side of the penalty area. He appeared to have made the
wrong decision to cross the ball but a wicked deflection off Amaya turned
the ball into the Spanish net.
Mboma was instrumental in creating the equalizer five minutes later when
another of his crosses found Etoo who controlled the ball with his right
foot before driving it home with his left from eight yards.
Cameroon were now firing on all cylinders with both Etoo and Mboma
cutting-up the Spanish defence with their delightful touches and intelligent
runs.
The situation further improved for the Africans in the 69th minute when
Gabri was sent off after a clumsy challenge in which his studs connected
with the knee of Alnoudji.
With Gabri gone and Tamudo substituted Spanish attacking options were
limited to a lone Jose Mari hoping for another mistake in the Cameroon
defence.
In the 91st minute, the nightmare intensified for the Spaniards when Jose
Mari, who had been on the receiving end of some physical attention from
Abanda throughout the game, received a yellow card for diving, his second
booking of the game, and marched tearfully towards the tunnel.
It was 11 men against nine men for a golden goal period which, apart from
one shot against the crossbar by Capdevila, turned into a siege of the
Spanish goal.
Cameroon thought that they had it wrapped-up with a minute to go when Etoo
found the net, only to have his almost golden goal disallowed for offside.
The Spanish battled tenaciously in and around their own penalty area and
were much relieved to hear the final whistle that gave them another chance
in the penalty shoot-out.
Xavi and Capdevila converted for Spain, Mboma and Etoo for Cameroon. Then
the unfortunate Amaya, who had earlier scored the own goal that brought
Cameroon back into the game, sent the ball against the crossbar to give the
Africans the advantage.
Albelda got one more for Spain, Etame Mayer for Cameroon before the pressure
switched to Pierre Wome to secure the gold medal.
Wome, who plays his club football with Bologna in Italy, made no mistake and
struck the ball low and hard out of the reach of the outstretched Aranzubia.
Wome ripped off his shirt and ran towards the corner flag with a trail of
delirious teammates in his wake. In the stands, the Cameroon contingent,
which included the great Roger Milla himself, danced delightedly in
celebration of their dramatic and well-deserved victory.
Teams: Spain - Aranzubia, LaCruz, Marchena, Puyol, Amaya, Angulo (Capdevila
74), Albelda, Xavi, Velamazan (c)(Gabri 26), Angulo, Jose Mari, Tamudo
(Ferron 48).
Cameroon - Kameni, Wome, Abanda, Nguimbat (Ngom Koma ) , Branco (Epalle
115), Mimpo, Alnoudji (Meyong Ze 111), Njtap Fotso (c), Etame Mayer, Eto'o
Fils, Mboma.
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