AFRICAN NATIONS CUP

Paul Le Guen is striving to keep his Cameroon team focused on the massive job in hand to try and keep their African Nations Cup alive when they come up against Zambia. The Indomitable Lions cannot afford another slip-up in Lubango following their humiliating 1-0 loss to Gabon in their opening Group D encounter earlier this week.

It was undoubtedly the shock of the first round so far and another poor result could leave Africa's number one-ranked team facing an early exit.

"We remain focused for the remaining games,'' the French coach said ahead of the game. "The players are calm, they've trained well and we intend to approach the game against Zambia with all the seriousness it deserves.
"We hope to have more success than in the first match when we did not deserve losing because we dominated a greater part of the game.''

Speaking after the loss in the opening game Le Guen admitted he was "stunned'' and star striker Samuel Eto'o has echoed similar sentiments in the build-up against the southern Africans.

Le Guen added: "We were quite surprised. But it's one of those things in football and we just have to put it behind us. It's now simple, we must win our next two games to qualify.''

Despite being wary of the Cameroonians, Herve Renard was certain his Zambian players could hold their own.
The Chipolopolo boss was disappointed after watching the team throw away a 1-0 lead in the opening match against Tunisia to eventually draw 1-1.

He said: "I am happy the players played well, but I am also unhappy with the result. I think we deserved to win.
"We will now have to pick up against the Lions. They will be wounded after losing, so we must be careful.
"But I think the game on Sunday is going to be tough because we are also ready.''

It would be a rare event, if Africa's top ranked nation were to lose back to back games on their own continent, and punters might shy away from another shock. Cameroon can be forgiven an off day against a well drilled side, but they have too much class in our view to go out.

The 4/7 on Betfair to decent stakes looks tempting. Most firms are 1/2 or shorter, although you have to take on board your discount. If you can bet in running that price will drift the longer the game goes on, and cameroon have enough experience to play a patient game if the first goals doesn't come early.

Gabon might not be a forlorn hope to get a result against Tunisia, who start the match over 20 places ahead of them in the FIFA rankings. But, Tunisia have won just one in seven, and lost to Mozambique and Suadi Arabia this year. Gabon have been in good form in the last year or so, and other than two defeats gainst Cameroon in qualifiers, have lost just one other game in ten. The 5/2 about another shock might be just worth taking - the more cautious can get them on the AH at better than evens with +.25 gls.

THREE WINNERS FROM SIX FOR MEMBERS ON SATURDAY

Published 17-01-2010

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