SSR Vol5 FIFA- WC-SA

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SSR Magazine

Samuel Eto after Denmark loss

African teams at World Cup Cameroons (early bow)

After a surprising 1-0 loss to Japan in its opening game, Cameroon became the first team to be officially eliminated from the tournament. The early bow came after a 2-1 loss to Denmark at Tshwane/Pretoria Stadium in their second group match. Captain Samuel Eto gave Cameroon the early lead (10th minute), but Denmark responded with two unanswered goals from Nicklas Bentner (33') and Dennis Rommedahl (61’) for the win. In a routine third match against Netherlands at Cape Town, Captain Eto scored the equalizer but Klaas Huntelaar scored the winner in the 83rd minute to give the Dutch a 2-1 win and the group title.

SSR Magazine

South Africa supporters were disappointed that their team did not win their opening match against Mexico, but in retrospect Bafana Bafana did better than most of the higher ranked African teams at the tournament. Of consolation is the fact that Bafana finished with a win and only failed to advance on goal difference.

Nigeria was the third African team to be eliminated after Cameroon and South Africa. Nigeria lost to Argentina 1-0 in its opening match after Lionel Messi ignited Argentina’s offense. Gabriel Heinze scored the lone goal, to give coach Diego Maradona a momentary reprieve from his critics.

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