Cameroon reaches 7th World Cup finals

Two second half goals from Jean Makoun spurred Cameroon to a comfortable 4-1 win over Tunisia to book its place in the World Cup finals for an African record seventh time on Sunday.

Cameroon wasted no time in taking the advantage after last month's goalless first leg in Rades.

There were just three minutes on the clock when Pierre Webo pounced on a defensive lapse by the Tunisians, firing a shot across the goal that bounced in off the post.

But it took a majestic tally on the half-hour by Benjamin Moukandjo to give the Indomitable Lions breathing space as Tunisia paid the price for sitting back and letting the home side carry the game to it.

Moukandjo, brought in to add size and pace on the left, produced just that, collecting the ball and with a burst of speed, gliding through three defenders and firing an unstoppable shot past Moez Ben Charifa from the edge of the area.

"We are very happy," said Cameroon midfielder Stephane Mbia.

"We have had some difficult years, but this is the result of having a strong group."

"It was a deserved victory," said Cameroon defender Danny Nounkeu. "We were focussed on the goal ever since we started training.

"To play in a World Cup is important for every player. The Tunisian team was good but there is ever only one winner."

Cameroon is the third African team to qualify for Brazil after Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire sealed their spots on Saturday.

The final two playoffs take place on Tuesday, with Ghana holding a 6-1 lead over Egypt while Algeria hosts Burkina Faso trailing 3-2.

(China Daily 11/19/2013 page23)