Cameroon falls to Denmark, 2-1, and is eliminated
Reporting from Pretoria, South Africa
This was to be Africa’s World Cup. No less an authority than Nelson Mandela said so.
“This event,” said Mandla Mandela, speaking for his 91-year-old grandfather “should enable Africans to realize that we are able to [host] a world-class event.”
Notice he didn’t say anything about Africa’s being able to play in a world-class event. Which is good, because nine days into the first World Cup on African soil the Lost Continent has become the Loss Continent.
A record six African teams were invited to this year’s tournament and through 11 games they’ve combined for just one win — and that victory, by Ghana, came on a penalty kick after a questionable hand-ball call.
The latest loss came Saturday night when winless Cameroon, expected to breeze through group play, fell to Denmark, 2-1, becoming the first team to be eliminated from contention for a spot in the second round.
But at least it scored its first goal of the tournament. Algeria and the Ivory Coast have yet to do that.
To be fair, injuries have played a big part in Africa’s struggles. Ghana, whose only two scores have come on penalty kicks, is without midfielder Michael Essien, and it missed defender Isaac Vorsah in Saturday’s tie with lowly Australia.
Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel won’t play at all in South Africa, and a broken arm has limited Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba to just 24 minutes in the tournament.
But that alone can’t explain six losses and four ties in 11 games in which Africa has been outscored, 12-5.
“Yes, yes. But it’s very difficult because the [other] teams are very good,” said Paul Le Guen, Cameroon’s French-born coach. “We were not good enough. But I don’t want excuses. It is not enough for me.”
Cameroon actually led for a time Saturday, with Samuel Eto’o scoring in the 10th minute. But the lead didn’t stand for long, with Nicklas Bendtner matching it for Denmark in the 33nd minute.
The play started with Simon Kjaer’s long ball from well inside the Danish end finding Dennis Rommedahl on the right wing deep in Cameroon territory. Rommedahl settled the ball, then punched it across the goal mouth to Bendtner on the left side for the easy tap-in.
The goal that ended Cameroon’s World Cup hopes came 16 minutes into the second half and it was a dagger to the heart, coming on a counterattack after a strong Pierre Webo shot hit Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen in the stomach.
Denmark immediately sent the ball back the other way, with Rommedahl streaking down the right wing, cutting inside of defender Jean Makoun and letting go a curling shot that eluded Cameroon keeper Hamidou Souleymanou to the far side.
Africa’s next chance for a win comes Sunday night when winless — and goal-less — Ivory Coast meets Brazil, the tournament favorite.
“We have to get better and better,” said Le Guen, who blamed Cameroon’s failure on himself. “It’s a problem. But we will try to do it.”
It won’t happen soon enough to save the African World Cup, though.
kevin.baxter@latimes.com
