Cameroon began its 2006 World Cup qualifying quest by being penalised with a six point deduction by FIFA. Abeer Anwar investigates what that loss means to Egypt's qualifying chances In its Zurich meeting on 16 April, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee fined the Cameroon Football Association (CHF) and deducted six points from its national team in the qualification round for the 2006 FIFA World Cup -- which begin in June. The punishment was imposed as a result of Cameroon's failure to comply with the equipment requirements of Law 4 of the Laws of the Game during the African Cup of Nations 2004 in Tunisia. FIFA had shown leniency at the time for Cameroon's attire in the group round of the competition after the association had given assurances that the team would wear authorised playing kit in the knock-out phases. Despite this agreement, Cameroon subsequently wore the same equipment in the quarter-finals in their final loss in front of Nigeria. The decision will come as a shock to the African giants and will hamper their ambitions of qualifying for the finals in Germany from a group made up of Egypt, Ivory Coast, Libya, Sudan and Benin. "We could pay the fine but with a penalty of six points, Cameroon cannot qualify for the 2006 World Cup," Jean-Paul Akono, the former coach of the Cameroon national youth team told the press. The deduction, of course, comes in Egypt's favour, given that Cameroon is the strongest opponent Egypt's national team has to face in its qualifications journey to the 2006 World Cup to be held in Germany. But the question, of course, is whether or not the Egyptians will manage to capitalise on that chance. The nations football experts have already got down to business, making calculations and tallying up the probabilities and expectations. Cameroon will play the qualifications missing six points out of 30 -- which are the absolute total of 10 matches. Cameroon are in Group Three of the 2006 World Cup and Cup of Nations qualifying campaign alongside Egypt, Ivory Coast, Libya, Sudan and Benin. Samir Adli, Egypt's national team administrative manager spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly about the matter: "This is a great mission. They cut off six points from Cameroon. That puts a big load on the players as they will be asked to win all their matches. If they fail to do so, they will lose a chance that had never been given, so-to-speak. In all cases, Egypt gains." But other experts have other points of view -- perceiving the Cameroon situation as one that will only place more pressure on Egypt. "The Cameroon team, the Lions, have always been fighters and this will initiate them more to win," said one local coach who asked to remain unnamed. "They will do their best and will not leave a match go without a victory. On the other hand, the Egyptian players, as usual, might feel relaxed and can lose a match or two in their qualifications round to find themselves in a corner." Tardelli, Egypt's national team new Italian coach, had his own thought-out theory. "The qualifications will not be an easy job," he said. "Of course Cameroon, our strongest opponent, will be in a weaker place but we cannot depend on that. Players have to forget about the minus six points and play as if the Lions are in their full power." It is well known that Egypt's group includes less experienced counterparts -- teams such as Sudan, Libya and Benin. That fortunate reality is one which those in the Egyptian football sphere urge the national team to capitalise on if Egypt is to clinch that national dream of competing in the first World Cup goal. The second goal on that World Cup timeline is bringing the esteemed event to Egypt in 2010. But it may perhaps be slightly early to calculate to their advantage those missing six points. Theophile Abega, who sits on the commission of the African Football Confederation, said that Cameroon must fight to recover the lost points. "The authorities and Fecafoot (Cameroon football federation) must appeal, otherwise we can't qualify for the World Cup. This really is a very heavy penalty for Cameroon," Abega said. The official response from Fecafoot was more restrained. "All I can tell you is that the executive committee of Fecafoot is going to meet and a decision will be taken," Pierre Nguidjol Nlend, the administrative director of the national team, told the press. Cameroon, who were defending African champions, were given the nod by FIFA to play in the one-piece strip during the group phase of the African Nations Cup in Tunisia but the team continued to use the body-suits during the quarter- finals, Nlend said. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee opened an inquiry on 13 February 2004 in order to rule on this serious infringement of the Laws of the Game and the association's failure to fulfil the pledge made to FIFA. Cameroon sponsors Puma, who also supply Egypt and Tunisia, unveiled the controversial body-suits at the Nations Cup in January. The Indomitable Lions' fashion statement, in the form of a sleeveless shirt, at the previous Nations Cup in Mali two years ago also landed them in hot water with the soccer authorities and it was later banned.
