Stars out in force for Foé

Result secondary
The African nation won 3-1 but the result against former team-mates of Foe was secondary to the emotion shared by the players on the pitch and the 23,962 spectators in the stands at his old Olympique Lyonnais club ground. Also present were many of his family and friends including wife Marie-Louise and his son, also named Marc-Vivien.

Mboma flies in
The Cameroon midfield player died of heart failure aged just 28 shortly after collapsing during Cameroon's semi-final against Colombia on 26 June. Former Parma AC striker Patrick Mboma, who flew from Japan to celebrate the memory of his friend, Paris Saint-Germain FC's Modest Mbami and Samuel Eto'o of RCD Mallorca scored Cameroon's goals in a game that was screened on French television.

Stars participate
The 'Friendship team', comprising the likes of Arsenal FC's Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord as well as Foé's former Manchester City FC team-mate Nicolas Anelka, scored through Brazilian Sonny Anderson, who played with Foé at Lyon.

Income to charity fund
The income from the game will go to a charity fund chaired by Foé's wife. Viewers at home were also urged to buy shirts signed by some of the game's most famous names. "It's a special day today, and I ask you to give all your support to Marc-Vivien and his family," said England captain David Beckham in a recorded message broadcast on television.

'The best homage we could pay'
"Some 25,000 people and a field of great players, it was the best homage we could pay to Marco," said former French international Basile Boli, who organised the game with the French Professional League (LFP).

'Mark of love'
"I'd like to thank all the people who supported me and all those who were present today. It's a mark of love for Marc-Vivien," said Marie-Louise Foé. The 'Friendship' team was coached by Manchester City's Kevin Keegan, Lyon's Paul Le Guen and former RC Lens trainer Daniel Leclercq. Foé, who was on loan at City last season, won French league titles with Lens and Lyon.

Illustrious career
The match was played under the motto "A lion never dies, it sleeps" and a banner in the stands read: "Another star now shines above Gerland". Foé made 65 appearances for Cameroon, played in two FIFA World Cup tournaments in 1994 and 2002 and twice won the African Cup of Nations, in 2000 and 2002.