Cameroon rise from bottom to top in five days

Cameroon defeated Gabon 2-1 in Yaounde on Wednesday and completed a climb from the bottom to the top of a World Cup qualifying group within five days.

Midfielder Jean Makoun and striker Samuel Eto’o scored for the ‘Indomitable Lions’ before striker Daniel Cousin set up a tense finish with a last-minute goal.

The five-time World Cup qualifiers won 2-0 in Libreville last Saturday and the double over their central African neighbours has turned French coach Paul le Guen into an instant national hero.

The former Lyon and Rangers coach took charge last month and guided Cameroon to a 2-0 friendly victory in Austria ahead of the World Cup fixtures against a Gabonese side seeking a first World Cup appearance.

But if the ‘Lions’ conquer Togo at home on October 10 and Morocco away on November 14 they will stay on top and go to South Africa for the first World Cup staged on the continent.

Cameroon have seven points, Gabon six, Togo five and Morocco three in easily the most exciting of the five Africa World Cup groups with even the winless North African ‘Atlas Lions’ mathematically capable of finishing first.

A Makoun goal on 24 minutes was scant reward for first-half dominance by the home team at the national stadium and Eto’ calmed nerves on 64 minutes when his diving header beat Didier Ovono.

Coached by former France midfield star Alain Giresse, Gabon staged a late rally and Hull City striker Cousin struck with a fierce shot that went just inside the far post.

Ghana last Sunday became the first African nation to secure a 2010 World Cup place and Cameroon, Tunisia, Algeria and Ivory Coast are best positioned to claim the other places beside automatic qualifiers South Africa.