Cameroon coach Rigobert Song
Cameroon coach Rigobert Song praised his team’s fighting spirit after a stunning World Cup victory over five-time winners Brazil in their Group G finale at Lusail Stadium on Friday night.
Vincent Aboubakar scored a stoppage time winner to stun Tite’s side 1-0, who are hot favourites to win their record-extending sixth title in Qatar.
Cameroon did not progress to the last 16 stage but they became the first African side to claim victory over the South American giants in World Cup finals.
“I am proud of my players. They have shown that they are the true warriors,” the Cameroon coach said after the victory.
The Indomitable Lions finished third in the group behind Switzerland who defeated them in their opening match. Cameroon drew with Serbia 3-3 in their second match.
“We said we were getting stronger. The regrets, it is in the first match that we can have them. We had opportunities,” said Song.
“It’s a real shame that we have to go home now, but you need to look on the bright side. We need to keep working and keep moving, I trust in my players,” he added.
“I’m trying to get across a team spirit, that lion’s spirit, which has been the key to Cameroon teams over the years. We have a young team and perhaps we haven’t had enough time together, but we can be a very, very good team,” Song said.
“Unfortunately though, we don’t qualify for the next round, that’s why we are not too happy, but it’s not on account of tonight’s performance.”
Brazil coach Tite sent a second string team against Cameroon resting most of his regulars ahead of the last 16 clash against South Korea.
“Tonight we all lost, it is a collective defeat,” Tite said after the match.
“Nobody has won all three group games at this World Cup and the three teams who won their first two matches lost the next one. It just shows how difficult these matches are.”
Brazil’s Jesus, Telles out of World Cup due to injuries
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles have been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with knee injuries, the Brazil team announced yesterday.
The South American team said the pair, who were hurt during Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, both underwent tests yesterday that “confirmed their injuries and the impossibility of them recovering for the rest of the World Cup in Qatar”.
Brazil, who face South Korea in the last 16 tomorrow, have problems in defence as Telles’ fellow full-backs, Danilo and Alex Sandro, have also had injury problems.
Arsenal forward Jesus featured in all three of Brazil’s Group G games but the Selecao have a wealth of attacking talent.
Tite has said that star forward Neymar will play again in Qatar after spraining his right ankle in Brazil’s opening 2-0 win over Serbia.
Hopes Neymar could feature against South Korea increased after he was seen at the Lusail Stadium with his teammates, walking on the pitch without a limp.
(AFP)
