The Indomitable Lions were conquered at the African Nations Cup. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab relates the crash Nigeria denied defending champions Cameroon their third successive African Nations Cup by beating them in the quarter-finals 2-1. John Otaka ended Cameroon's hopes of a third successive crown as his goal secured Nigeria a semi-final place. Otaka latched on to Nwankwo Kanu's pass to run clear and slide a shot in off a post with 17 minutes left. Otaka's second goal at the finals gave the two-time champions the victory and maintained their proud record of not having finished outside the top four at any final in which they participated since 1984. In other quarter-final action, a North African derby extended into extra time but Morocco made it at the end, proving too much for Algeria 3-1. Tunisia, the host country, celebrated by edging Senegal 1-0 and Mali beat Guinea 2-1 to make it to the semi-finals for the fourth consecutive time. With both teams showing mutual respect for each other, the opening minutes of the Nigeria- Cameroon quarter-final produced defensive caution. The last time Nigeria won the African Nations Cup was in 1994, when they managed to beat a hastily rebuilt Zambian side -- who had a year earlier lost virtually their entire national squad in a plane crash -- 2-1 in the final. The venue was ironically Tunisia. Since then, Nigeria has finished second (2000) and third (2002). In 1996 the West Africans did not participate in the competition after they were ordered by their government not to defend their title in South Africa. They were subsequently banned for four years by the continental association and could not participate in 1998. The ban was then lifted. Midfielder Jay Jay Okocha, who is captaining the squad this time around, is the only present- day player who was in the squad 10 years ago. After the victory over Cameroon, known as the Indomitable Lions, Okocha said that he was now starting to dream of winning a second African title. "After losing our first game against Morocco 1-0 and then having all the problems in the team, we did not dare to dream of doing well, but after the good game against South Africa which we won 4-0 and knocking out the defending champions, we are now dreaming of going all the way." Just as it appeared the first half would end goalless, the tactically aware Cameroon took advantage of a lack of organisation in the Nigerian defence to launch a quick counter attack. On the receiving end of a pass from the rear, Samuel Eto'o made a run past sluggish central defender Isaac Okoronkwo before rounding goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and curling a left foot shot into the bottom corner. Eto'o's 42nd minute goal, his first of the tournament, provoked a unique reaction from his teammates, as they playfully beat his chest in celebration. Stung into action, Nigeria wasted little time in seeking an equaliser. It took a trademark effort from the mercurial Okocha to get back on level terms in first half stoppage time. Taking a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, the midfielder swerved the ball to the left, leaving Kameni motionless as it sailed by. Inspired by their comeback, the Super Eagles maintained their initiative in the second half, with captain Rigobert Song and his defensive colleagues struggling to contain Nigeria's attacking play. Song appeared to foul a threatening Odemwingie in the 53rd minute but the referee turned down appeals for a penalty. Nigeria's consistent efforts for the winner finally paid off in the 73rd minute when Kanu lobbed the ball into space for an onrushing Otaka, who slotted the ball under Kameni's arm for the second goal. A controversial clash in Rades ended with Tunisia beating Senegal 1-0. With nearly 60,000 fans cheering them on, Tunisia began the quarter-final tie with a desire to secure an early goal. But both the Lions of Teranga and the Tunisians lost some chances. The Senegalese fought their way into the game, with El Hadji Diouf making a series of runs that created occasional panic in the Tunisian defence. But his protests against the tough marking of the Tunisian defenders did little to sway referee Ali Bujseem. With the evening mist creating poor visibility on the turf, play in the second half became a scrappy affair. But the Tunisians broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Jawhar Mnari, connecting with an inventive bicycle kick by Ziad Jaziri from the right side of the penalty area, nodded the ball home. Defender Lamine Diatta failed in a last-gasp effort to head the ball off the line. But the goal was only half the story. Senegal officials invaded the pitch following the goal to protest that a free kick should have been awarded their way earlier in the move for Khaled Badra's challenge on Diouf. Ten minutes of second half stoppage time were added following a number of injuries and skirmishes. Senegal's defeat highlighted the glaring absence of their inspirational midfielder Khalilou Fadiga, who could only watch the game from the spectator stands as he recovers from the health scare that nearly scuppered his transfer to Inter Milan from Auxerre. A day after Tunisia qualified for the semis, another North African team joined them. Extra time goals from Youssef Hadji and Jaouad Zairi booked Morocco a semi-final place after a dramatic clash with Algeria. It marked Morocco's return to the semi-finals for the first time since hosting the tournament in 1988. Underdogs Algeria looked to have won it when Abdel-Malek Cherrad headed home Hocine Achiou's cross on 81 minutes which had deflected into his path from Moroccan defender Talal El- Karkouri. But Morocco deservedly drew level four minutes into stoppage time as Marouane Chammakh lashed home unmarked from Mohamed Yaacoubi's run and cross. After being left unattended inside the six-yard box, he beat a cruelly exposed Lounes Gaouaoui in the Algerian goal with ease. It would have been an injustice to Morocco had they failed to take the game into extra time, as they were in complete control from the first shrill of Libyan referee Abdul-Hakim Shelmani's whistle. The overwhelmingly Algerian crowd at the Taieb Mhiri stadium in Tunisia's second biggest city did its utmost to unsettle the Moroccans, jeering their every touch of the ball and throwing the occasional missile onto the pitch. But in the face of such extreme provocation, the Atlas Lions remained calm and took the game to the Desert Foxes. Substitute Hadji fired in from a tight angle before Zairi sealed victory with a late breakaway goal. Mali captain Mahamadou Diarra saw his side through to the semi-finals with a last-gasp goal to beat brave Guinea 2-1. Diarra's injury time strike was heartbreaking for Guinea keeper Kemoko Camara who allowed the curling shot to squirm under his body. Underdogs Guinea had led through Pascal Feindouno's clinical early strike from Titi Camara's lay-off. But Frederic Kanoute levelled with a neat chip on the stroke of half time. Mali's ability to withstand pressure and make the most of their limited opportunities enabled them to qualify for the semi-finals for the fourth time in four tournaments. In 2002, experts said that their unexpected success was due to home advantage. But Henri Stambouli and his team proved them wrong by not only finishing ahead of Senegal in their group; they have now gone one step further by ousting Guinea. One reason why Mali have done so well is that they have found a striker who has an eye for goals and a shot to go with it. Kanoute, however, would not be playing for his parents' country had FIFA not changed its rules last year to allow players who have represented one country at international youth level to play for their country of origin. The Tottenham Hotspur striker played for France at youth level but has now thrown in his lot with Mali and an unexpected place in the semi-finals has made sure that he has no regrets.
