FRANCEVILLE: Cameroon didn’t need their big-name players to make the African Cup of Nations final.

Instead, Cameroon’s youngsters described by their coach as a bunch of friends who just like to play football knocked out mighty Ghana on Thursday and set up a title decider against record seven-time champions Egypt in Libreville on Sunday.

Michael Ngadeu and Christian Bassogog both netted in the second half as Cameroon beat Ghana 2-0 to return to the final for the first time since 2008, and did it with most of the top stars still in Europe with their clubs.

You wonder if they were watching, and regretting their decisions to turn down call-ups to the squad.

With the stars unavailable, tired maybe of Cameroon’s recent struggles, coach Hugo Broos brought 14 players who had never been to a major tournament.

They responded by knocking out Senegal in the quarterfinals and Ghana in the semis, two strong contenders for the trophy. They played with a free spirit.

“It is a real dream for us to get to the final,” said a delighted Broos. “Ghana have more experience than us — look at what they have done in recent tournaments. But since the start of this tournament we have shown we keep going right to the end in every game.

“I am very happy, especially for the team. They are an exemplary group on and off the field and they deserve to be in the final.”

Giant centre-back Ngadeu-Ngadjui sneaked around the back of the Ghana defence from a free kick and took advantage of a mix-up to blast the ball home from close range in the 72nd minute.

Bassogog caught Ghana on the counter attack as Cameroon added a second with virtually the last kick of the game.

Ghana, who have still never beaten Cameroon at the competition, will now go to Port-Gentil for a third-place play-off against Burkina Faso on Saturday.

This was their sixth consecutive Cup of Nations semi-final, but their wait to win the trophy for the first time since 1982 will go on.

“I am more than unhappy. We wanted so much to be in the final,” said a deflated Ghana coach Avram Grant.

“We did everything to be there and in the second half we completely dominated. Congratulations to Cameroon of course but we were the better side and we lost.”

Cameroon profited from poor finishing by their more fancied opponents.

Ngadeu-Ngadjui, almost unknown in his own country less than a year ago, fired home from an acute angle after Ghana centre back John Boye got into a muddle with keeper Razak Brimah that allowed the ball to run through to the unmarked Cameroonian.

The goal broke the deadlock in a lively affair and set up a grandstand finish as Ghana tried furiously to find an equaliser, forcing several corners as they desperately sought a way back.

But as Ghana pressed forward they were always susceptible to the counter attack and Danish-based Bassogog steamed away three minutes into added time to wrap up Cameroon’s triumph.

Bassogog’s goal prompted every member of Cameroon’s squad to race off the bench and celebrate on the field at Stade de Franceville. One of them booted the ball high into the stands in delight.

“This is a group of 23 friends. I’ve never seen this before in a football team,” said Broos, himself a fairly low-key manager who had never been in charge of a national team before.

Cameroon have won the African Cup four times but not since 2002, and their recent record at major tournaments has been terrible. They lost all of their games at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, and failed to win a game at the last African Cup in 2015.

There have also been regular disagreements between players and their bosses over payments and bonuses. Maybe the big-name players believed they couldn’t be bothered with all the problems anymore.

In Gabon, Cameroon’s new squad turned it around by just enjoying their football and each other’s company that simple, Broos said.

“I can count on them and that’s because we are a group of friends,” the Belgian coach said.

Published in Dawn February 4th, 2017