African hopes face final chance
Friday 11 February 2005
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Turkey coach Metin Tekin (UEFA)
By Türker Tozar
Having lost their first three games, Cameroon and Sierra Leone are desperate to end the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup with a victory - and face Turkey and Portugal respectively in Friday's final round of matches.
Sierra Leone surprise
Sierra Leone have arguably been the tournament's surprise package, even if results suggest otherwise; Abu Sankoh's side produced a stirring display when losing 3-0 to Spain first time out, then followed up with narrow defeats by France (2-1) and Turkey (1-0).
'Alive and energetic'
After watching his team struggle to break down their African opponents and escape with a victory thanks to some poor Sierra Leonean finishing, Turkey coach Metin Tekin was certainly impressed. "I was not expecting Sierra Leone to be so lively and energetic," Tekin said. "Of the three sides we have played, they offered the biggest challenge."
We want to achieve a win this time
Abu Tommy
'Fight hard'
Sierra Leone midfielder Abu Tommy is suspended against Portugal but has a calf injury in any case, and Sankoh is urging his players to give everything in their final game. "We want to achieve a win this time," he said. "We will fight hard in order to achieve it."
Portuguese response
That is sure to be a stern task against a Portugal team that bounced back from a disappointing goalless draw with Egypt on Matchday 2 to beat Cameroon 3-1 in the last round. Defender Gilberto Da Silva will miss his team's farewell match, however, having been sent off for a professional foul after conceding the penalty that allowed the African side a late consolation.
Tactical tinkering
Portugal coach Carlos Dinis told uefa.com that his players had started to understand his system and so his tactics were bearing fruit: "We will play the same system against Sierra Leone, who are starting to gain more personality. They are a better team now than they were at the start of the tournament."
Owona absence
Cameroon have conceded 14 goals in losing their three games, with only captain Guy Toindouba finding the net for the African outfit, who have a number of injury worries ahead of their encounter with the host nation. Midfielder Brice Owona is ill and definitely ruled out while defender Aurélien Oko Botha is out after collecting his second yellow card of the competition against Portugal.
Cameroonian confidence
Coach Engelbert Mbarga is nonetheless confident in Cameroon's ability and believes they are capable of taking at least a point. "We would obviously like to get our first points in our final game," he told uefa.com. "We know it will not be easy because the standard of the European teams is very high. But we believe our boys have learned enough from their opponents so far, so we are going to play for at least a point against Turkey."
Turkish target
Meanwhile, Turkey are determined to record a fourth consecutive win, with coach Tekin having a full-strength squad at his disposal. "Our one remaining target is winning the last game," he said. "Cameroon have not been able to perform very well in the tournament and the players had a two-day rest, which is an advantage for us. Football is open to surprises, but we do not want this to be one of them."
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