Cameroon lines up Turks after upset

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) -- Both Turkey and Cameroon have something to prove at the Confederations Cup. When they meet Saturday, the winner will also find the way open to the semifinals.

The Turks are eager to show their third place at the World Cup was no fluke, while the African champions are desperate to show their first-round exit was.

Both teams are coming off confidence-building wins to move atop Group B. Cameroon stunned reigning World Cup champion Brazil 1-0 while Turkey defeated World Cup quarterfinalist United States 2-1.

"We have shown we are well prepared by defeating Brazil," said Real Mallorca striker Samuel Eto'o, who scored Cameroon's spectacular winning goal against the five-time world champions Thursday night. "We are prepared for all our competitors. Of course we have respect for them but we are confident. We'll take each match as it comes." Cameroon is currently 18th on the FIFA rankings, 10 places below Turkey.

"Turkey is a strong team but we are prepared," said Eto'o.

Turkey took everyone by surprise in its first World Cup appearance in 48 years. It lost to eventual champion Brazil 1-0 in the semifinal but bounced back by defeating co-host South Korea 3-2 in the third-place game.

Cameroon, meanwhile, suffered short and painful episode, crashing out in the opening round. It is seeking redemption in France without many of its top World Cup stars.

The African title holders are without striker Patrick Mboma, midfielder Lauren Etame Mayer, Salomon Olembe, and defender Raymond Kalla. But after a win like Thursday's no one is complaining anymore.

"Turkey is a good team, a fantastic team," said Cameroon's German coach Winfried Schaefer. "I watched the Turks recently in England. They're a powerful side and it was no coincidence they came third at the World Cup.

"But we are Cameroon's Indomitable Lions."

Turkey is missing Ilhan Mansiz of Besiktas and Hasan Sas of Galatasaray, both of whom are injured. Striker Hakan Sukur, who set a World Cup record by scoring just 11 seconds into the third-place match against South Korea, and Emre, were also left out of the squad.

And there is still doubt whether Real Sociedad will release striker Nihat Kahveci and his teammate Tayfun Korkut. Sociedad is locked in a battle with Real Madrid for the Spanish league title, which will be decided Sunday.

 

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