Wenger not hopeful of keeping Alexis
Monday, 15 January 2018
Tuesday, 31 January 2017
Duarte hails mentor Mourinho
Burkina Faso head coach Paulo Duarte has revealed that his coaching philosophy is inspired by Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho, a fellow Portuguese tactician.
The former Portugal defender has taken Afcon 2017 by storm in a tournament that has seen the tournament favourites eliminated including heavyweights like Algeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal.
His past two appearances coincidentally in charge of Burkina Faso in 2010 in Angola and 2012 in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon only amassed one draw and four losses leading to his sacking ultimately.
However, words of encouragement from Mourinho who coached him at Uniao Leiria in the Portuguese topflight league have been very encouraging throughout his journey this far.
“Apart from being a football trainer, Mourinho is a friend and a father to me. He is very good at mental preparation and vision of training as well as analyzing the opponent,” Duarte explained.
“He called me yesterday to wish me luck in the semifinal against Egypt on Wednesday. Coincidentally, the last time I spoke to him was when I was in charge of Gabon and we played Portugal in Libreville. He is someone who is here to help me.”
“He has changed the mentality of football not only in Portugal but across the world. He has created modern football with a new vision.”
Duarte has rejuvenated his coaching career at Afcon 2017 and is keen on writing history in Burkina Faso by winning their first African title but Egypt stands between him and this dream.
The Stallions will be looking to defeat Egypt on Wednesday for a place in the final on February 5 and hopefully lift the coveted trophy of African football to put away ghosts from the 2013 edition when they lost to Nigeria in the final in South Africa.
The former Portugal defender has taken Afcon 2017 by storm in a tournament that has seen the tournament favourites eliminated including heavyweights like Algeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal.
His past two appearances coincidentally in charge of Burkina Faso in 2010 in Angola and 2012 in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon only amassed one draw and four losses leading to his sacking ultimately.
However, words of encouragement from Mourinho who coached him at Uniao Leiria in the Portuguese topflight league have been very encouraging throughout his journey this far.
“Apart from being a football trainer, Mourinho is a friend and a father to me. He is very good at mental preparation and vision of training as well as analyzing the opponent,” Duarte explained.
“He called me yesterday to wish me luck in the semifinal against Egypt on Wednesday. Coincidentally, the last time I spoke to him was when I was in charge of Gabon and we played Portugal in Libreville. He is someone who is here to help me.”
“He has changed the mentality of football not only in Portugal but across the world. He has created modern football with a new vision.”
Duarte has rejuvenated his coaching career at Afcon 2017 and is keen on writing history in Burkina Faso by winning their first African title but Egypt stands between him and this dream.
The Stallions will be looking to defeat Egypt on Wednesday for a place in the final on February 5 and hopefully lift the coveted trophy of African football to put away ghosts from the 2013 edition when they lost to Nigeria in the final in South Africa.
Pochettino rues missed opportunity after Sunderland draw
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted he was disappointed after his side dropped two points in their bid to eat into Premier League leaders Chelsea's lead with a 0-0 draw with struggling Sunderland on Tuesday.
Spurs leapfrogged London rivals Arsenal on goal-difference, nine points behind Chelsea – who were held 1-1 by Liverpool on Tuesday – after a bruising stalemate at struggling Sunderland.
Pochettino's side are unbeaten in the league since mid-December, an eight-match run that has seen them take 20 of a possible 24 points to maintain their hopes of securing at the very least a top four finish in May.
The Argentinian confessed to leaving Sunderland reflecting on what might have been at an opportunity lost.
"I'm disappointed, not frustrated," he said.
"We're on a good run at the moment, and it was a chance to cut the gap on Chelsea so when you drop two points like tonight then it's difficult not to feel bad about it."
'NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH'
Danny Rose faces a scan on a knee injury that forced the England defender off before halftime in an uncompromising contest.
Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after a sickening challenge on Tottenham's Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele.
Spurs return to action at the weekend when they host Middlesbrough on February 4.
"Danny will be assessed," said Pochettino.
"He's twisted his knee and we'll know more tomorrow. I don't know if it was a red card for Rodwell, it's difficult for referees to take a quick decision, and we need to support his decision.
"I thought we were poor in the first half and although we were better in the second, it wasn't enough to win the game.
"We weren't aggressive enough – that was the problem and we can't afford that.
"We all need to learn and try to fix it."
Relegation-threatened Sunderland failed with late transfer bids for Leicester City forward Leo Ulloa and Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez as David Moyes attempted unsuccessfully to fill the void left by the two-month injury absence of Nigerian international Victor Anichebe.
"I don't know if I'd use the word frustrating," said Moyes, who bought in Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo on Monday from one of his former clubs Everton.
"We were trying to add to the squad but we knew it was going to be a difficult few days.
"The injury to Victor made the situation a lot harder for us. Some players we couldn't get, and some clubs chose not to sell their players, so that's where we're at."
The Black Cats are without a win in eight games in all competitions, but were boosted by a welcome point to lift them off the bottom of the Premier League on goal difference ahead of Hull, who play Manchester United on Wednesday.
Despite moving off the foot of the table, victory for Swansea leaves them five points adrift of safety.
"We're aware of the way the other results went, but we can't do a lot about that," said Moyes.
"What we can do is to build on what we've got, get that team spirit and toughness about us and take pride in this performance because I thought we really stuck at it."
Spurs leapfrogged London rivals Arsenal on goal-difference, nine points behind Chelsea – who were held 1-1 by Liverpool on Tuesday – after a bruising stalemate at struggling Sunderland.
Pochettino's side are unbeaten in the league since mid-December, an eight-match run that has seen them take 20 of a possible 24 points to maintain their hopes of securing at the very least a top four finish in May.
The Argentinian confessed to leaving Sunderland reflecting on what might have been at an opportunity lost.
"I'm disappointed, not frustrated," he said.
"We're on a good run at the moment, and it was a chance to cut the gap on Chelsea so when you drop two points like tonight then it's difficult not to feel bad about it."
'NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH'
Danny Rose faces a scan on a knee injury that forced the England defender off before halftime in an uncompromising contest.
Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after a sickening challenge on Tottenham's Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele.
Spurs return to action at the weekend when they host Middlesbrough on February 4.
"Danny will be assessed," said Pochettino.
"He's twisted his knee and we'll know more tomorrow. I don't know if it was a red card for Rodwell, it's difficult for referees to take a quick decision, and we need to support his decision.
"I thought we were poor in the first half and although we were better in the second, it wasn't enough to win the game.
"We weren't aggressive enough – that was the problem and we can't afford that.
"We all need to learn and try to fix it."
Relegation-threatened Sunderland failed with late transfer bids for Leicester City forward Leo Ulloa and Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez as David Moyes attempted unsuccessfully to fill the void left by the two-month injury absence of Nigerian international Victor Anichebe.
"I don't know if I'd use the word frustrating," said Moyes, who bought in Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo on Monday from one of his former clubs Everton.
"We were trying to add to the squad but we knew it was going to be a difficult few days.
"The injury to Victor made the situation a lot harder for us. Some players we couldn't get, and some clubs chose not to sell their players, so that's where we're at."
The Black Cats are without a win in eight games in all competitions, but were boosted by a welcome point to lift them off the bottom of the Premier League on goal difference ahead of Hull, who play Manchester United on Wednesday.
Despite moving off the foot of the table, victory for Swansea leaves them five points adrift of safety.
"We're aware of the way the other results went, but we can't do a lot about that," said Moyes.
"What we can do is to build on what we've got, get that team spirit and toughness about us and take pride in this performance because I thought we really stuck at it."
Klopp irked by Liverpool fans' impatience
Jurgen Klopp urged Liverpool's supporters to show more patience with his team after arguing with a fan during the 1-1 draw with Premier League leaders Chelsea.
The LIverpool manager Klopp could be seen exchanging words with a fan standing behind the dug-outs after a first-half back-pass towards goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was met by a collective groan around Anfield.
Klopp said his side were committed to building play from the back and asked supporters not to allow their impatience to get the better of them.
"If we don't play possession football tonight, it's ping-pong," Klopp told reporters after Tuesday's game.
"We played high pressure, so Chelsea does it smart, plays a few long balls. If we do the same, you have a stiff neck after the game.
"So we had to play football and that includes sometimes you play a back-pass. And then I hear in this moment (shouts): 'Why you play a back-pass?'
"Keep your nerve, please. It's still football. I have no problem with emotion. I have much more emotions than I should have. But it's in this moment (I think), 'What do you want?'
"It was only one guy, by the way, that I made eye contact with. Blue jacket."
The draw preserved the 10-point gap separating the sides, but meant Liverpool, who remain fourth, avoided four successive home defeats for the first time since 1923.
Chelsea took a 24th-minute lead when David Luiz's quickly taken free-kick caught out Mignolet as he tried to organise his defence, the ball cannoning in off his right-hand post.
Georginio Wijnaldum equalised with a 57th-minute header before Mignolet atoned by saving a penalty from Diego Costa, awarded for a foul on the Chelsea striker by Joel Matip.
Klopp celebrated Mignolet's penalty save by roaring in the face of fourth official Neil Swarbrick, but said the pair had later made peace.
ARSENAL NEXT FOR CHELSEA
"It was a foul before in my opinion on (Dejan) Lovren, that's what I was a little angry about," Klopp said.
"No one can beat us, was what I said (to Swarbrick). Obviously that's not true, but it felt for us like this in that moment.
"I was absolutely the wrong person to say it. I said: 'Sorry, I was a bit excited.' He said: 'No problem, I like your passion.'"
Liverpool's supporters felt Costa went down too easily after being caught by Matip, but Klopp said he had no qualms with the combative Chelsea striker.
"If I had played against Costa, I could never be friends – that's how it is – but when you have him in your team it's much more fun. He is a warrior," said Klopp.
"What (Antonio) Conte is doing with Chelsea is outstanding, but Chelsea without Costa this season?
"He is not the nicest guy on the pitch, but I saw no real big incident.
"If someone tells me it was a dive, maybe I will be angry tomorrow, but that would be wrong decision what, number 27? But it doesn't make it better."
Despite Costa's squandered penalty, Arsenal's loss to Watford and Tottenham Hotspur's goalless draw at struggling Sunderland made it a good night for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
"It is not easy to play against Liverpool in this moment after three defeats. It is not easy to play in this atmosphere," said Conte, whose side sit nine points clear ahead of Arsenal's visit on Saturday.
"I am very proud of my players for the personality they showed tonight. It is a good point, for sure.
"When you have a good chance with a penalty in the 76th minute then you think you could win and take three points, but Mignolet made a great save.
"Now it is important to recover well as we wasted a lot of energy because the game was intense and there were a lot of mistakes."
The LIverpool manager Klopp could be seen exchanging words with a fan standing behind the dug-outs after a first-half back-pass towards goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was met by a collective groan around Anfield.
Klopp said his side were committed to building play from the back and asked supporters not to allow their impatience to get the better of them.
"If we don't play possession football tonight, it's ping-pong," Klopp told reporters after Tuesday's game.
"We played high pressure, so Chelsea does it smart, plays a few long balls. If we do the same, you have a stiff neck after the game.
"So we had to play football and that includes sometimes you play a back-pass. And then I hear in this moment (shouts): 'Why you play a back-pass?'
"Keep your nerve, please. It's still football. I have no problem with emotion. I have much more emotions than I should have. But it's in this moment (I think), 'What do you want?'
"It was only one guy, by the way, that I made eye contact with. Blue jacket."
The draw preserved the 10-point gap separating the sides, but meant Liverpool, who remain fourth, avoided four successive home defeats for the first time since 1923.
Chelsea took a 24th-minute lead when David Luiz's quickly taken free-kick caught out Mignolet as he tried to organise his defence, the ball cannoning in off his right-hand post.
Georginio Wijnaldum equalised with a 57th-minute header before Mignolet atoned by saving a penalty from Diego Costa, awarded for a foul on the Chelsea striker by Joel Matip.
Klopp celebrated Mignolet's penalty save by roaring in the face of fourth official Neil Swarbrick, but said the pair had later made peace.
ARSENAL NEXT FOR CHELSEA
"It was a foul before in my opinion on (Dejan) Lovren, that's what I was a little angry about," Klopp said.
"No one can beat us, was what I said (to Swarbrick). Obviously that's not true, but it felt for us like this in that moment.
"I was absolutely the wrong person to say it. I said: 'Sorry, I was a bit excited.' He said: 'No problem, I like your passion.'"
Liverpool's supporters felt Costa went down too easily after being caught by Matip, but Klopp said he had no qualms with the combative Chelsea striker.
"If I had played against Costa, I could never be friends – that's how it is – but when you have him in your team it's much more fun. He is a warrior," said Klopp.
"What (Antonio) Conte is doing with Chelsea is outstanding, but Chelsea without Costa this season?
"He is not the nicest guy on the pitch, but I saw no real big incident.
"If someone tells me it was a dive, maybe I will be angry tomorrow, but that would be wrong decision what, number 27? But it doesn't make it better."
Despite Costa's squandered penalty, Arsenal's loss to Watford and Tottenham Hotspur's goalless draw at struggling Sunderland made it a good night for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.
"It is not easy to play against Liverpool in this moment after three defeats. It is not easy to play in this atmosphere," said Conte, whose side sit nine points clear ahead of Arsenal's visit on Saturday.
"I am very proud of my players for the personality they showed tonight. It is a good point, for sure.
"When you have a good chance with a penalty in the 76th minute then you think you could win and take three points, but Mignolet made a great save.
"Now it is important to recover well as we wasted a lot of energy because the game was intense and there were a lot of mistakes."
Wenger stumped after Watford sink Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was at a loss to explain his side's appalling first-half display during their surprise 2-1 defeat by Watford at the Emirates Stadium.
His side mustered just three wayward efforts on goal in the opening 45 minutes as they allowed Watford to canter into a two-goal lead and damage further their tilt at the Premier League title.
"It was not good in the first half, especially in the first 20 minutes. We were beaten in the duels and Watford were sharper than us," Wenger admitted after Tuesday's match.
"Did we think subconsciously that we just had to turn up? I don't know. Honestly we prepared well for the game. Looking at the preparation, I have no basic regret.
"We knew that Watford would make it very physical and we prepared for that.
"You do not make 47 points after 23 games in the Premier League if you don't have physical power, but you have to switch it on 100 percent all of the time in the Premier League.
"We didn't start the way we wanted, but in the second half it was all us and let's be fair, we didn't deserve to lose this game.
"We hit the bar and (Watford goalkeeper Heurelho) Gomes made fantastic saves as well, so I still think that if you look at the chances, we were unlucky to lose.
"On top of that we were a bit unlucky with the free-kick for the first goal and then a deflected shot on top of that."
Younes Kaboul's deflected free-kick gave Watford a 10th-minute lead and Watford added a second three minutes later when Troy Deeney tucked in the rebound from Etienne Capoue's shot.
Arsenal, who replied through Alex Iwobi, travel to leaders Chelsea on Saturday and Wenger insisted his team will not suffer from a hangover from this result.
Nor was he comforted by draws for Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, which limited the ground Arsenal lost.
TAYLOR TRIBUTE
"We want to respond against Chelsea and win the game, of course. But we first have to analyse why we didn't start well in this game," said the Frenchman, whose team now trail Chelsea by nine points.
"I'm responsible for the results of the team so I am very frustrated that we did not win the game. We are playing at home, we had a great opportunity and we had a start like we did.
"We have to learn from that and respond very quickly and in a very convincing way. What the other teams do doesn't matter."
Wenger confirmed that Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey had limped off with a calf strain.
For Watford manager Walter Mazzari, the result justified his decision to rest almost his entire first team for Sunday's FA Cup defeat by third-tier Millwall.
The Italian made a point of dedicating the victory to former Watford manager Graham Taylor, who passed away on January 12.
"My objective is for Watford to stay in the Premier League and to make my team grow game by game, week by week," said Mazzarri, whose side sit 13th.
"Of course the players need this victory to work better with me and also to believe that they can achieve great things.
"I was very happy at the end because recently we deserved to win some games, but didn't because luck was not on our side. We needed a big win, especially for the morale of the team.
"Of course I would have liked us to play the whole 90 minutes like we did in the first half.
"But we had at least four or five players coming back from injury and who hadn't played 90 minutes for a long time, so they weren't in condition to play the full 90 minutes at the same level.
"Today was a great game and I want to dedicate this victory to a great person in Graham Taylor."
His side mustered just three wayward efforts on goal in the opening 45 minutes as they allowed Watford to canter into a two-goal lead and damage further their tilt at the Premier League title.
"It was not good in the first half, especially in the first 20 minutes. We were beaten in the duels and Watford were sharper than us," Wenger admitted after Tuesday's match.
"Did we think subconsciously that we just had to turn up? I don't know. Honestly we prepared well for the game. Looking at the preparation, I have no basic regret.
"We knew that Watford would make it very physical and we prepared for that.
"You do not make 47 points after 23 games in the Premier League if you don't have physical power, but you have to switch it on 100 percent all of the time in the Premier League.
"We didn't start the way we wanted, but in the second half it was all us and let's be fair, we didn't deserve to lose this game.
"We hit the bar and (Watford goalkeeper Heurelho) Gomes made fantastic saves as well, so I still think that if you look at the chances, we were unlucky to lose.
"On top of that we were a bit unlucky with the free-kick for the first goal and then a deflected shot on top of that."
Younes Kaboul's deflected free-kick gave Watford a 10th-minute lead and Watford added a second three minutes later when Troy Deeney tucked in the rebound from Etienne Capoue's shot.
Arsenal, who replied through Alex Iwobi, travel to leaders Chelsea on Saturday and Wenger insisted his team will not suffer from a hangover from this result.
Nor was he comforted by draws for Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, which limited the ground Arsenal lost.
TAYLOR TRIBUTE
"We want to respond against Chelsea and win the game, of course. But we first have to analyse why we didn't start well in this game," said the Frenchman, whose team now trail Chelsea by nine points.
"I'm responsible for the results of the team so I am very frustrated that we did not win the game. We are playing at home, we had a great opportunity and we had a start like we did.
"We have to learn from that and respond very quickly and in a very convincing way. What the other teams do doesn't matter."
Wenger confirmed that Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey had limped off with a calf strain.
For Watford manager Walter Mazzari, the result justified his decision to rest almost his entire first team for Sunday's FA Cup defeat by third-tier Millwall.
The Italian made a point of dedicating the victory to former Watford manager Graham Taylor, who passed away on January 12.
"My objective is for Watford to stay in the Premier League and to make my team grow game by game, week by week," said Mazzarri, whose side sit 13th.
"Of course the players need this victory to work better with me and also to believe that they can achieve great things.
"I was very happy at the end because recently we deserved to win some games, but didn't because luck was not on our side. We needed a big win, especially for the morale of the team.
"Of course I would have liked us to play the whole 90 minutes like we did in the first half.
"But we had at least four or five players coming back from injury and who hadn't played 90 minutes for a long time, so they weren't in condition to play the full 90 minutes at the same level.
"Today was a great game and I want to dedicate this victory to a great person in Graham Taylor."
Resurgent Cameroon stand in Ghana's path
The nearly men of African football in recent years, Ghana go into a sixth consecutive semifinal at the Cup of Nations when they face Cameroon in Franceville on Thursday.
The Black Stars have not won the trophy since 1982, instead gaining a reputation for coming up just short all too often over the last decade.
Avram Grant's side lost on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the final two years ago, while their current run of near misses began with a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon at home in Accra in 2008.
But in Gabon they have seemed like a side on a mission to end their long title drought and a 2-1 quarterfinal win over DR Congo in Oyem on Sunday, secured thanks to a goal each from the Ayew brothers, took them through to the last four.
There a Cameroon side dismissed by most observers prior to the tournament awaits.
"In the group stage they played well and against Senegal they were very impressive, so the semifinal is going to be tough," Grant told Ghanaian media.
The Israeli will be eager to have skipper Asamoah Gyan – a survivor of the 2008 squad – back fit from the adductor injury suffered in their last group game against Egypt and that kept him out of the DR Congo win.
Meanwhile, Razak Brimah will hope to keep his place in goal despite being fined $2 500 by the Ghanaian FA after upsetting supporters with an outburst on Facebook.
Razak said he was responding to insults directed at his mother but nevertheless issued an official apology.
"I accept that as an ambassador for my country Ghana and a role model for many across the globe, I should not have reacted this way," said the 29-year-old.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
The sedate town of Franceville, set amidst lush green rolling hills around the Mpassa river, was the venue for Cameroon's penalty shoot-out win over Senegal in the last round.
So while Ghana have had to travel to the south-east of Gabon from Oyem, Cameroon were able to stay at their base in the nearby town of Moanda, one of the biggest manganese producers in the world.
There Hugo Broos's side have been preparing contentedly in the knowledge they have already exceeded expectations in making it this far.
"Nobody was expecting us to be here but from the first day of our preparations for this tournament we had been hoping to go as far as possible," the full-back Fai Collins told several media outlets, including AFP, on Tuesday.
Cameroon progressed from their group at the expense of hosts Gabon and then edged out a much-fancied Senegal thanks to a Sadio Mane miss in a penalty shoot-out that followed a goalless draw.
They have put behind them the withdrawals of key players before the competition, including Joel Matip and Eric Choupo-Moting, and are flourishing under their Belgian coach.
"The players who didn't come have their own personal reasons why they didn't come and we are not looking back," added Collins, of Standard Liege in Belgium.
"We are focused on those who are here. It is a group, not one player or two players."
It is also a young squad, but Collins remembers well the win against Ghana at the same stage nine years ago when the Indomitable Lions side featured stars like Samuel Eto'o and Rigobert Song.
"I remember I was at home, watching the game with my parents," he said.
"It was an extraordinary feeling for us beating Ghana knowing they had a very good squad. Now I am here and I hope I can have the same feeling as I did back then."
The Black Stars have not won the trophy since 1982, instead gaining a reputation for coming up just short all too often over the last decade.
Avram Grant's side lost on penalties to the Ivory Coast in the final two years ago, while their current run of near misses began with a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon at home in Accra in 2008.
But in Gabon they have seemed like a side on a mission to end their long title drought and a 2-1 quarterfinal win over DR Congo in Oyem on Sunday, secured thanks to a goal each from the Ayew brothers, took them through to the last four.
There a Cameroon side dismissed by most observers prior to the tournament awaits.
"In the group stage they played well and against Senegal they were very impressive, so the semifinal is going to be tough," Grant told Ghanaian media.
The Israeli will be eager to have skipper Asamoah Gyan – a survivor of the 2008 squad – back fit from the adductor injury suffered in their last group game against Egypt and that kept him out of the DR Congo win.
Meanwhile, Razak Brimah will hope to keep his place in goal despite being fined $2 500 by the Ghanaian FA after upsetting supporters with an outburst on Facebook.
Razak said he was responding to insults directed at his mother but nevertheless issued an official apology.
"I accept that as an ambassador for my country Ghana and a role model for many across the globe, I should not have reacted this way," said the 29-year-old.
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
The sedate town of Franceville, set amidst lush green rolling hills around the Mpassa river, was the venue for Cameroon's penalty shoot-out win over Senegal in the last round.
So while Ghana have had to travel to the south-east of Gabon from Oyem, Cameroon were able to stay at their base in the nearby town of Moanda, one of the biggest manganese producers in the world.
There Hugo Broos's side have been preparing contentedly in the knowledge they have already exceeded expectations in making it this far.
"Nobody was expecting us to be here but from the first day of our preparations for this tournament we had been hoping to go as far as possible," the full-back Fai Collins told several media outlets, including AFP, on Tuesday.
Cameroon progressed from their group at the expense of hosts Gabon and then edged out a much-fancied Senegal thanks to a Sadio Mane miss in a penalty shoot-out that followed a goalless draw.
They have put behind them the withdrawals of key players before the competition, including Joel Matip and Eric Choupo-Moting, and are flourishing under their Belgian coach.
"The players who didn't come have their own personal reasons why they didn't come and we are not looking back," added Collins, of Standard Liege in Belgium.
"We are focused on those who are here. It is a group, not one player or two players."
It is also a young squad, but Collins remembers well the win against Ghana at the same stage nine years ago when the Indomitable Lions side featured stars like Samuel Eto'o and Rigobert Song.
"I remember I was at home, watching the game with my parents," he said.
"It was an extraordinary feeling for us beating Ghana knowing they had a very good squad. Now I am here and I hope I can have the same feeling as I did back then."
Cameroon owe it to Ondoa, club outcast but national hero
Cameroon's presence in the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations against all the odds owes much to the exceptional performances of their 21-year-old goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa.
Following snubs from several experienced players, the Indomitable Lions travelled to Gabon with what looked like their weakest ever squad at the competition.
And yet Ondoa has helped them progress at the expense of the hosts and much-fancied Senegal and on to a semifinal against Ghana on Thursday.
"Since the start of the competition he has saved us in a lot of matches. He has really been in his element," said teammate Arnaud Djoum of the man who has been handed the gloves by coach Hugo Broos.
It was Ondoa's remarkable reaction save to deny Didier Ndong in injury time that allowed Cameroon to draw 0-0 with Gabon and go through to the last eight.
His performances in the group stage led to him being named in the official team of the round, but better was to come.
He thwarted Senegal time and again throughout a goalless 120 minutes before stopping Sadio Mane's crucial penalty in the shoot-out to set Cameroon up for a famous win.
"Players like him have a rare talent," Ondoa said after his save from the Liverpool star. "You cannot show them that you know which way he is going to shoot.
"I had to wait until the last moment to dive and try to stop the ball. You need quality in football, but courage, determination and faith can take you a long way."
Ondoa has needed plenty of these qualities on the road to becoming a national hero while his presence scarcely seems to register with his club.
He is, effectively, a reserve player for a reserve team. On loan to Sevilla's B team in the Spanish second division, Ondoa can't get a game.
But with Carlos Kameni out of the reckoning and Guy-Roland Ndy Assembe and Andre Onana rejecting call-ups the path was cleared for him at international level.
"A lot of people were talking about the choice of goalkeeper. But he has proven he deserves his place," added Djoum, the Hearts midfielder.
Fai Collins, the full-back, shared that sentiment when asked to give his verdict on the shot-stopper.
"Frankly, I can't say I am surprised because he is a talented goalkeeper," said Collins.
"But with the work he puts in, it has really moved me, knowing he is not the first choice at his club and yet he is having a great tournament."
Ondoa's talent has never been in doubt. Indeed, he was picked up by Barcelona as a youngster and did enough to get a professional contract at the Camp Nou, albeit only with their B team.
He made his full international debut aged 18 and played for Cameroon at the 2015 Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
From a country that has produced goalkeeping greats like Thomas Nkono and Joseph-Antoine Bell, Ondoa always looked to have a big future ahead of him.
But Barcelona allowed him to leave last year and he was eventually picked up by Gimnastic Tarragona, a Spanish second-tier side from Catalonia, before being loaned to Seville.
His displays in Gabon could provide a much-needed shot in the arm for his club career, and Bell for one has not lost faith.
"When you are lucky enough to get a break so early on at that level, I don't see how you couldn't end up at a big club one day," said the 62-year-old goalkeeping great turned pundit.
Following snubs from several experienced players, the Indomitable Lions travelled to Gabon with what looked like their weakest ever squad at the competition.
And yet Ondoa has helped them progress at the expense of the hosts and much-fancied Senegal and on to a semifinal against Ghana on Thursday.
"Since the start of the competition he has saved us in a lot of matches. He has really been in his element," said teammate Arnaud Djoum of the man who has been handed the gloves by coach Hugo Broos.
It was Ondoa's remarkable reaction save to deny Didier Ndong in injury time that allowed Cameroon to draw 0-0 with Gabon and go through to the last eight.
His performances in the group stage led to him being named in the official team of the round, but better was to come.
He thwarted Senegal time and again throughout a goalless 120 minutes before stopping Sadio Mane's crucial penalty in the shoot-out to set Cameroon up for a famous win.
"Players like him have a rare talent," Ondoa said after his save from the Liverpool star. "You cannot show them that you know which way he is going to shoot.
"I had to wait until the last moment to dive and try to stop the ball. You need quality in football, but courage, determination and faith can take you a long way."
Ondoa has needed plenty of these qualities on the road to becoming a national hero while his presence scarcely seems to register with his club.
He is, effectively, a reserve player for a reserve team. On loan to Sevilla's B team in the Spanish second division, Ondoa can't get a game.
But with Carlos Kameni out of the reckoning and Guy-Roland Ndy Assembe and Andre Onana rejecting call-ups the path was cleared for him at international level.
"A lot of people were talking about the choice of goalkeeper. But he has proven he deserves his place," added Djoum, the Hearts midfielder.
Fai Collins, the full-back, shared that sentiment when asked to give his verdict on the shot-stopper.
"Frankly, I can't say I am surprised because he is a talented goalkeeper," said Collins.
"But with the work he puts in, it has really moved me, knowing he is not the first choice at his club and yet he is having a great tournament."
Ondoa's talent has never been in doubt. Indeed, he was picked up by Barcelona as a youngster and did enough to get a professional contract at the Camp Nou, albeit only with their B team.
He made his full international debut aged 18 and played for Cameroon at the 2015 Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
From a country that has produced goalkeeping greats like Thomas Nkono and Joseph-Antoine Bell, Ondoa always looked to have a big future ahead of him.
But Barcelona allowed him to leave last year and he was eventually picked up by Gimnastic Tarragona, a Spanish second-tier side from Catalonia, before being loaned to Seville.
His displays in Gabon could provide a much-needed shot in the arm for his club career, and Bell for one has not lost faith.
"When you are lucky enough to get a break so early on at that level, I don't see how you couldn't end up at a big club one day," said the 62-year-old goalkeeping great turned pundit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)