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Heavyweights prep for showdown Nigeria ready to battle Cameroon for African crown
Posted: Saturday February 12, 2000 04:13 PM
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- Like heavyweight boxers before a big bout, Nigeria and Cameroon are talking a good fight as they prepare to clash in the African Nations Cup final. But the two fiercest rivals in African soccer are agreed on one thing: that their first match for eight years on Sunday will be as much about physique as technique. Giants like Raymond Kalla, Marc-Vivien Foe and Patrick Mboma make Cameroon one of the toughest teams in internationfinal win against South Africa. "You can shoot it from afar, set a trap for it, or confront it strength to strength. They might be bigger, but we are smaller and wiser." Jo Bonfrere, Nigeria's coach, is preparing his team for a physical battle. "If it comes to that, we are blessed with superior skill," the Dutchman said. "My players are not weaklings. They are strong." Like Cameroon, Nigeria is seeking a third continental title. Bonfrere was delighted with his team's performance against South Africa but will make tactical changes against the Indomitable Lions. "We will go back to the drawing board to plot for the final, but we are ready for a battle," Bonfrere said. "We are not going to play a beautiful game, because that is what Cameroon like to play against. We will have to hold them and compete physically." The Super Eagles have an extra incentive to win Sunday's match in Lagos. Cameroon has twice beaten Nigeria in the final of the African Nations Cup, 3-1 in 1984 and 1-0 four years later. Nigeria's 2-0 win in the third-placed match in 1992 did little to dampen its desire for revenge. But Cameroon captain Rigobert Song believes the Indomitable Lions can complete a hat trick of African Nations Cup final triumphs against their greatest rivals. "It will be a tough, physical battle against a star-studded Nigerian team before its home fans," the Liverpool defender said. "That doesn't mean we are intimidated in an sense. If the game gets heated, we are ready." Lechantre, who must decide whether to assign a marker to "But the Cameroon style still emphasizes a big physical commitment, and I don't want to change that."
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