Cameroon confident of winning African Nations Cup

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Africa's team of the 20th century, are confident of starting the 21st in style by winning the African Nations Cup for the fourth time.

"Our players have been active in their clubs. We have done a lot of training in the few training camps we've had," said Winfried Schafer, the German coach of the defending champions.

"I promise that we are going to work 100 percent and you will see the results."

African champions in 1984, runners-up in 1986 and champions again in 1988 and 2000, the Indomitable Lions have an impressive record.

After four appearances in the World Cup finals, they were the first African country to qualify for the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea.

A string of stars who play for leading clubs in Italy, Spain, Germany, France and England will boost the Lions' chances.

"The players are confident. We have a very dynamic group. We know it won't be easy, especially as we are the cup holders, but I can reassure you that we will bring home the cup," said captain Rigobert Song, who plays in Germany for FC Cologne.

However, despite the players' optimism, the public is concerned about the team's lack of preparation and friendlies against high-class opposition.

According to a poll conducted in Yaounde by official daily Cameroon Tribune, four out of five supporters fear the team will perform poorly in Mali.

LEGENDS OF 1990

Cameroon blasted their way into the game's consciousness in the 1990 World Cup when they beat holders Argentina 1-0 in the opening match and went onto become the first African team to reach the quarter-finals.

But since then, the Lions' form has been inconsistent.

After lacklustre World Cup performances in 1994 and 1998, they stormed back to win the Nations Cup in 2000 and won soccer gold at the Sydney Olympics later the same year, before performing badly again in the Confederations Cup in Japan.

Leading the attack in Mali will be the duo of veteran 31-year-old striker Patrick Mboma who plays for Italy's Parma and Real Mallorca's 20-year-old Samuel Eto'o, recently named as one of the top three African players of 2001.

Former coach Jean Manga Onguene shares Song's optimism. He says Cameroon remain the best team on the continent.

Moreover, the recurrent squabbles within Cameroon's football governing body and the government ahead of major competitions are absent this time.

"We have a very good team and the players are very motivated. Coach Winfried Schafer has done a meticulous, rigorous job ... there's no room for pessimism," said Sports minister Bidoung Mpkatt.

In Mali, Cameroon will start in Group C with the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Ivory Coast and Togo, two West African teams they encountered at the last Nations Cup in Ghana, and should advance comfortably.