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Third time the charm? Nigeria seeks first win vs. Cameroon in Nations Cup final
Posted: Friday February 11, 2000 09:26 AM
LAGOS (Reuters) -- Cameroon and Nigeria, which meet in the African Nations Cup final in Lagos on Sunday, have both won the competition twice before and meet in the deciding match for the third time in the tournament's history. Both of Cameroon's Nations Cup victories have come at the expense of the Nigerians, who they beat in 1984 and again in 1988. Cameroon came from a goal down to win 3-1 against the Super Eagles in the 1984 final in the Ivory Coast, with Roger Milla playing the leading role but failing to score. Milla, recently named as Africa's Footballer of the Century, was also captain of the winning team in Morocco in 1988 when Cameroon beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final. The result was settled by a 55th minute penalty, scored by defender Emmanuel Kunde. Nigeria's team included Stephen Keshi, who is now the assistant coach of the Nigerian squad. The last meeting between the two countries at the Nations Cup finals was in the third place play-off match in Senegal in 1992. Nigeria won 2-1 to take the bronze medal and their team included Mutiu Adepoju, Finidi George and Victor Ikpeba, who are all in the squad for Sunday's final. Nigeria beat Cameroon 1-0 in a friendly match at a four-nation tournament in Tunisia three years ago -- the last time the two neighbors have faced each other in an official international.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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