Cameroon first African team to taste victory against Brazil at a World Cup

Cameroon team members celebrate at the end of their World Cup Group G football match against Brazil at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on Friday. (AFP)
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  • Despite the victory on Friday, Cameroon finished third in their group and was eliminated

AP LUSAIL, Qatar: Cameroon coach Rigobert Song came full circle on a memorable and bittersweet night for African soccer.

Jerome Ngom Mbekeli, the only member of Cameroon鈥檚 team who plays for a Cameroonian club, made an inspiring run and cross to set up Vincent Aboubakar鈥檚 header and stoppage-time winner in a 1-0 victory to make the Indomitable Lions the first African nation to beat Brazil at a World Cup.

Despite the victory on Friday, Cameroon finished third in their group and was eliminated.

The 24-year-old Ngom Mbekeli was Cameroon鈥檚 final substitution, coming on four minutes from time. Song credited his own former coach, Henri Michel, for giving him an opportunity in 1994 when he played for local club Tonnerre Yaounde as he was making his World Cup debut.

鈥淵ou need to trust youth,鈥� Song said through a translator. 鈥淗enri Michel gave me an opportunity. He saw the potential in me. Now I鈥檓 the coach and I see potential in my young players.

鈥淚 knew (Ngom Mbekeli) was a good, quality player. He just needed an opportunity to show that. Hopefully his performance can motivate other local players.鈥�

Goalkeeper Devis Epassy 鈥� thrust into action after usual starter Andre Onana was sent home for disciplinary reasons after a dispute with Song before Cameroon鈥檚 previous game 鈥� earned player of the match honors for a series of difficult saves.

鈥淣o one knew me 鈥� even in Cameroon 鈥� until I started playing for the national team a year ago,鈥� Epassy said through a translator. 鈥淲e can be proud of what we鈥檝e done tonight. We showed that we can also be a top team.鈥�

Both Epassy and Aboubakar play for clubs in 黑料社区.

With eight goals in seven games, the 22-year-old Aboubakar was the top scorer at the African Cup of Nations in January.

Song and Samuel Eto鈥檕, Cameroon鈥檚 soccer federation president, are instilling a strict discipline policy modeled after the European clubs that they once played for 鈥� Song as a reliable defender and Eto鈥檕 as a standout striker.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 where we let ourselves down in the past,鈥� Song said. 鈥淧erhaps we didn鈥檛 do everything right, so we鈥檙e focusing on discipline.

鈥淭he team always needs to take precedent over individuals. When you play for the national team you need to do what鈥檚 expected of you.鈥�

While Brazil had already advanced and used mostly reserves, Cameroon still became the first team to beat the five-time champion in the World Cup group stage since Norway did it at the 1998 tournament in France 鈥� ending an unbeaten run of 17 group matches.

鈥淲e realize now that we could have done better,鈥� Song said. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e a young team and today we鈥檝e seen a young team getting stronger and stronger, and they should be congratulated on their performance.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real shame that we have to go home now,鈥� Song added. 鈥淏ut we are going to keep working and keep improving.鈥�