The Indomitable Lions keen to keep up their good work

They don’t celebrate a goal as Roger Milla once did — a delightful jig near the corner flag. But this bunch of Cameroon players has yet left a mark on the Nehru Cup with their brand of football , justifying the tag of the Indomitable Lions.

Cameroon is a big football nation in Africa. “Football is No 1 in their country,” said Karim Bencherifa, the Salgaocar coach for three seasons now. Hailing from Morocco, he does know Cameroon. He also knows Indian football having been coached Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan for two seasons each.

Power house

Bencherifa rates Cameroon a ‘power house’ of football. “Africa has a rich history of football with teams like Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt taking on the best in the world. Cameroon has two icons. Milla and (Samuel) Eto and football is growing in that nation.”

Cameroon, a team assembled in a mere two weeks time, has played the most attractive football in the Nehru Cup thus far. Cameroon, which meets India in the last league match here on Friday, has looked menacingly right through the tournament be it breathtaking finishes or the intensity it gets in the games.

Emmanuel Bosso, the Cameroon coach, asserted, “We have come to India to show what football in Cameroon is all about. We have mesmerized the world with our brand of football. We want India to have a feel of it too.”

Cameroon found support from Maldives coach Istvan Urbanyi. “India is a strong side but Cameroon are stronger; in fact, the strongest in this tournament. Forget their physical presence, they are much stronger tactically and technically. If you consider the physical ability, speed and endurance, Cameroon is way ahead.” he adds.

Bencherifa agrees. “Technically Cameroon has some very good players. Regular exposure overseas has helped them. They have some real quality players in No 17 (Kingue Mpondo), No 7 (Ashu Tambe), No 19 (Kologny Vigny Merime). They sometimes lose concentration in defence but they are a terrific bunch. Even if Cameroon had brought their third team here they would still have been a sensation.”

India coach Wim Koevermans’s reading of Cameroon is not different either. “Cameroon is surely a very strong side. The match (on Friday) will be interesting. It gives us a chance to have a look at our bench. We play Cameroon twice but the final stays the more important one.”

The Cameroon coach makes a healthy assessment of India too. “India has some good players. The No. 6 (Lenny Rodrigues) has impressed me a lot. He can play around in the midfield and stays a potent force. Also, the captain (Sunil Chhetri) and the goalkeeper (Subrata Pal) are key members. But we have our plans.”

Cameroon, which has attracted some club scouts with their performance here and might have a huge motivation in the stands if Milla keeps his promise.

Meanwhile in an inconsequential match, Syria defeated Nepal 2-0 with goals from Hani Altayar and Ali Ghlioum. Syria finished fourth in the tournament and Nepal fifth, behind third-placed Maldives.

The result: Syria 2 (Hani Altayar 9, Ali Ghlioum 49) bt Nepal 0.

Final: India vs Cameroon, 7 p.m.