African football had titillated with a few moments at past World Cups but it was until Cameroon captivated the world with their run to the quarterfinal in 1990 that the continent really made its breakthrough.Â
The Indomitable Lions not only upset holders Argentina in the tournament’s opening game in Milan but went onto reach the last eight, going further than any other African country had done before.
Victory over Diego Maradona and his teammates stunned the watching world as Francois Omam Biyik rose above defence and headed the ball down into the ground, seeing it then slip under the grasp of goalkeeper Nery Pumpido and into the net.
It energised Cameroon into a self-belief that had not been present through troubled preparations where players had squabbled and their Russian coach Valeri Nepomniachi was unable to speak either English or French.
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Success at the San Siro was followed by victory over Romania in Bari where the 38-year-old Roger Milla started to make his mark. He had been a controversial choice, an insistence by the country’s president Paul Biya. He had impressed in a testimonial match six months earlier as the politicians insisted he came out of retirement and was included in the World Cup squad, even though his teammates were initially not convinced.
Mila scored both goals against Romania to virtually assure their progress past the first round. They could even afford a 4-0 defat to the already eliminate Sobeit Union in their final Group B game in Bari.
With their colourful green, red and yellow kit, Cameroon had become everyone’s favourite ‘other team’ with their place. It was not all flair and fantasy, there was a hard element to their tackling that ensured a respect for their physicality, not only their running and skills.
Cameroon played in the opening round of 16 clash against Colombia in Naples and Milla again proved the hero, introduced in the second half as a substitute and breaking the deadlock in extra time. He then got another within 120 seconds when Colombia goalkeeper Rene Higuita was dispossessed of the ball by Milla as he wondered too far out of his area in what was a horror howler. Although Colombia pulled one back with five minutes of extra time remaining, the Indomitable Lions went on to secure Africa’s first-ever World Cup quarter-finals place.
But that was not the end of their ambition; they wanted more. England were next, also at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples, and the quarter-final clash between the two was the only one at the 1990 edition that produced more than one goal. England went ahead, as most observers had expected, through David Platt but did not reckon on an amazing Cameroonian comeback. Emmanuel Kunde’s penalty equaliser was followed four minutes let by a goal from Eugene Ekeke.
Cameroon were 2-1 up until eight minutes from time when they conceded a penalty, allowing England to take the time to extra time where they won another penalty and Gary Lineker netted again to break African hearts.