But a 1-0 victory over the five-time world champions, albeit fielding a second-string side, will temper the disappointment of yet another early exit for the Indomitable Lions, just as Tunisia beating World Cup holders France earlier this week softened the blow of their depature from the tournament. Cameroon might have been to more World Cups than any other African team but Friday's victory over Brazil was a first at the World Cup in two decades and only a fifth since they made the first of their eight appearances in Spain in 1982. Cameroon have long been riding on the reputation forged at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when they beat holders Argentina, Romania and Colombia on their way to the last eight, becoming the first African country to get that far. One win in 17 matches since that tournament showed stagnation and even with the win over Brazil, there is little left of the charisma that they created some 32 years ago. He won a tightly contested election one year ago to become the new Cameroon Football Federation president and has set about stamping out the foibles of old and adding a professionalism to their organisation that was missing when he was a player.

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