Cameroon survive fightback to reach semis

Midfielder Stephane Mbia struck twice including the extra-time winner as Cameroon beat Tunisia 3-2 to reach the MTN Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in Tamale on Monday.

Cameroon will meet hosts Ghana in Accra in the first of Thursday’s semi-finals (1700 GMT). In an enthralling quarter-final, Mbia swept the ball home from 12 metres after Joel Epalle headed on Geremi’s thrown-in in the second minute of extra time.Mbia had opened the scoring for Cameroon as they rushed to a two-goal lead in less than half an hour, Geremi adding the second from a free kick.Chaouki Ben Saada pulled one back with another free kick before halftime and Yassine Chikhaoui equalised with 11 minutes left of normal time.Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o failed to score for the first time in the tournament but is still leading scorer with five goals.Both teams had early chances as Mohamadou Idrissou headed wide from Geremi’s cross for Cameroon and Chikhaoui shot across the face of goal after dispossessing Geremi.Despite playing in fits and starts, Cameroon then hit their opponents with two goals in eight minutes.Mbia headed in Idrissou’s cross at the far post in the 19th minute before Geremi curled an exquisite free kick over the wall and inside the near post to double their lead.Tunisia pulled one back in the 34th minute with a free kick of their own, Ben Saada floating a left-footed effort past Idriss Carlos Kameni.Tunisia nearly equalised before half-time when Francileudo dos Santos hit the crossbar following a surging run from Sabeur Ben Frej and Ben Saada’s low shot from the rebound was parried by Kameni.Eto’o finally managed to work an opening in the second half when he got away from Radhi Jaidi but Radhouane Felhi got in a saving tackle.As the match became increasingly rough, Cameroon left back Timothee Atouba was lucky to escape with a yellow card for a late tackle on Chikhaoui.Tunisia equalised in the 79th minute when the impressive Ben Frej broke free on the right and sent over a low cross which Chikhaoui swept majestically into the goal on the turn.Nampa-ReutersIn an enthralling quarter-final, Mbia swept the ball home from 12 metres after Joel Epalle headed on Geremi’s thrown-in in the second minute of extra time.Mbia had opened the scoring for Cameroon as they rushed to a two-goal lead in less than half an hour, Geremi adding the second from a free kick.Chaouki Ben Saada pulled one back with another free kick before halftime and Yassine Chikhaoui equalised with 11 minutes left of normal time.Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o failed to score for the first time in the tournament but is still leading scorer with five goals.Both teams had early chances as Mohamadou Idrissou headed wide from Geremi’s cross for Cameroon and Chikhaoui shot across the face of goal after dispossessing Geremi.Despite playing in fits and starts, Cameroon then hit their opponents with two goals in eight minutes.Mbia headed in Idrissou’s cross at the far post in the 19th minute before Geremi curled an exquisite free kick over the wall and inside the near post to double their lead.Tunisia pulled one back in the 34th minute with a free kick of their own, Ben Saada floating a left-footed effort past Idriss Carlos Kameni.Tunisia nearly equalised before half-time when Francileudo dos Santos hit the crossbar following a surging run from Sabeur Ben Frej and Ben Saada’s low shot from the rebound was parried by Kameni.Eto’o finally managed to work an opening in the second half when he got away from Radhi Jaidi but Radhouane Felhi got in a saving tackle.As the match became increasingly rough, Cameroon left back Timothee Atouba was lucky to escape with a yellow card for a late tackle on Chikhaoui.Tunisia equalised in the 79th minute when the impressive Ben Frej broke free on the right and sent over a low cross which Chikhaoui swept majestically into the goal on the turn.Nampa-Reuters

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