Cameroon head into semifinals

Cameroon defeat Tunisia in extra-time to meet Ghana for a place in the final.

Cameroon

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Cameroon players will look to wreck the host’s party on Thursday [AFP]

Cameroon’s Stephane M’Bia scored his second goal of the match in extra time to lead the Indomitable Lions to a 3-2 victory over Tunisia and into the African Cup of Nations semifinals against host Ghana.

M’Bia gave the four time winners the lead in the 19th minute when he headed in Mohamadou Idrissou’s cross from the left. Geremi made it 2-0 with a powerful free kick in the 27th.

But Tunisia then rallied and cut the lead in the 34th from Chaouki Ben Saada’s curling free kick, and after dominating the second half, Yasin Chikhaoui equalised in the 79th to force extra time.

In extra time M’Bia’s sweet strike won the match in the 92nd when he converted a cross from substitute Joel Epalle.

“It was a tough match,” Cameroon captain Rigobert Song said.

“We scored two goals and then we brought them into the game but this team has strong
mentality.”

Ben Saada almost scored in the 42nd but goalkeeper Carlos Kameni denied him with a fine save after Francileudo Santos’ shot rebounded off the crossbar.

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Cameroon’s fans will at least have one more
 match to get dressed up for [AFP]

Cameroon plays Ghana in Accra on Thursday.

Both teams’ defences appeared uncertain early, and Cameroon midfielder Jean II Makoun wasted an opportunity in the fifth minute when he headed Geremi’s cross wide.

Minutes later, Yasin Chikhaoui stole the ball from Geremi and burst into the area, but his shot just missed the top corner.

Achille Emana tried to capitalize on a defensive error by Wissem El Bekri in the 14th, forcing Mehdi Nafti to cover and earning the Tunisia midfielder a yellow card when he tripped Emana.

Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre was pressed into early changes when defender Karim Haggui limped off clutching his hip in the 39th, necessitating the insertion of Sabeur Frej.

Chikhaoui found space down the right again in the 51st but failed to shoot, preferring instead to tumble and appeal for a penalty, which was not given.

Cameroon coach Otto Pfister made two defensive substitutions midway through the second half, apparently attempting to protect his lead but significiantly reducing the service to Eto’o.

Lemerre replaced Nafti with striker Issam Jomaa in the 70th to give Tunisia more strength in attack, and Tunisia equalized when Frej beat the tiring Timothee Atouba down the left and found Chikhaoui.

Source: News Agencies