Africa seeks next step

Cameroon savour their Olympic triumph

BY BBC Sport Online's Phil Gordos

Africa's footballers may struggle to impose themselves on the true international stage but when it comes to the Olympics they take some stopping.

Cameroon ensured the continent was celebrating for a second successive Games by sending nine-man Spain spinning to defeat in an absorbing and topsy-turvy final.

That's after Nigeria, who triumphed in Atlanta in 1996, fell at the quarter-final stage, beaten 4-1 by Chile.

Cameroon fully deserved their victory Down Under. They beat pre-tournament favourites Brazil in the last eight before edging past another South American side, Chile, in the semis.

Epic battle

Not since their epic battle with England in the 1990 World Cup have the Indomitable Lions made such an impact on world soccer.

Now their task - and Africa's other top-ranked sides - is to win when it really matters.

Dagny Mellgren is mobbed by her team-mates

Cameroon have possessed the skill to match the likes of France, Italy, Brazil and Argentina for a while now, but there have been doubts about their mental strength.

They went some way to dispelling those with their performances in Sydney.

They overcame Brazil in extra-time despite the dismissals of skipper Geremi Njitap and Aaron Nguimbat.

Overturn

Then they scored twce in the final six minutes of their semi to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Chile.

Even more self-belief and nerves of steel were required in the final itself.

Cameroon celebrate their win over Spain

Spain took the lead after just 77 seconds and made Cameroon's task even harder by adding a second just before half-time.

But the Lions roared back, taking the game into extra-time before coming out on top in a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out.

The women's final was an equally tense affair.

Clutching

The United States were favourites for the title but were left clutching the silver medal when substitute Dagny Mellgren grabbed a truly golden goal for Norway.

Despite defeat, the Americans remained gracious, with coach April Heinrichs insisting the Scandinavians deserved their victory.

"We have a deep respect for the Norwegians winning mentality - they are champions," she said.

It's that winning mentality which Cameroon will hope to foster as they attempt to add World Cup success to Olympic glory.