Okocha aiming to rekindle old glory with Nigeria

Nigeria 2 Cameroon 1

Jay-Jay Okocha yesterday gave Bolton every reason to raise the money to keep him when he used his sharpest leadership and playing skills to catapult Nigeria into the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup.

The Super Eagles' 2-1 victory against Cameroon ended a run of Nigerian bad luck in the tournament and revived hopes of a repeat of their title success here in Tunis in 1994. Okocha was also in the team on that occasion.

The Indomitable Lions, who had been looking for a third title in a row, never developed the nerve to break Nigeria down. The presence of the late Marc-Vivien Foé - who died while playing for Cameroon in the Confederations Cup last June - might have made the difference.

Instead, as a Nigerian supporter's placard announced, it was "Grilled Lions On The Menu" as Nwankwo Kanu teamed up with the Belgium-based 22-year-old Osaze Odemwingie - the former heavy, the latter quick - to bulldoze the Cameroon defence.

A solid Nigerian midfield, anchored around the United States-based Garba Lawal, solidified the onslaught.

It was a rare crack in the Nigerian edifice that allowed the Mallorca striker Samuel Eto'o to break through and score in the 42nd minute with his injured left foot.

Four minutes later, in first-half stoppage time, Okocha capitalised on a rebound from a 30-yard free-kick to volley the ball into the back of the net.

Having managed to level the scores before the interval, the Super Eagles merely needed to consolidate their mental edge over their opponents.

In the 72nd minute, after bringing the ball down with his chest, Kanu delivered it deep in the Cameroonian camp where John Utaka was already running clear of Rigobert Song and Lucien Mettomo.

Nigeria, who after a scrappy group stage now look like one of the most solid teams in the tournament, face the hosts, Tunisia, in Wednesday's semifinal at Rades in Tunis.

In the second semi-final, in Sousse, Mali face Morocco. In last night's quarter-final, which went into extra time and was blighted by fans going on the rampage at the Sfax stadium, Morocco beat Algeria 2-1.

Goals: Eto'o (42) 1-0; Okocha (45) 1-1; Utaka (73) 1-2.

Cameroon: Kameni; Perrier Doumbe, Tchato (Idrissou 62), Rigobert Song, Mettomo; Atouba, Mbami, Géremi, Djemba-Djemba; Eto'o, Mboma (Ndiefi, 78).

Nigeria: Enyeama; Yobo, Okoronkwo, Abbey, Udeze; Kanu (Enakahire, 90), Okocha, Lawal, Olofinjana; Utaka, Odemwingie (Ikedia, 89).

Referee: M Guezzaz (Morocco).