Cameroonians despair after Japan defeat

Jun 14, 2010, 19:01 GMT

Yaounde - Despair and disappointment descended on Cameroon after the West African nation's 1-0 defeat to Japan in their opening Group E match of the 2010 World Cup.

The day had started off with much hype and hope, as many supporters believed victory was assured for the Indomitable Lions.

A few hours before kick-off, bars were already rowdy with anxious fans hungry to bask in the Lions' glory.

Outside, countless Cameroon flags hung from windows. Some had dyed their hair in the Lions' colours.

It was not a holiday, but the atmosphere had all the looks and feel of one. Work unofficially ended by midday in public and private offices.

But expectation soon turned to disappointment.

As soon as the match ended, a huge silence fell on the town. Many fans were speechless as they stormed out of the various bars; others took down their flags.

Amid the disappointment, a local businessman who spent the day buying drinks for other fans and placing bets was rushed off to hospital after collapsing.

Friends who sat with him in the bar during the match said he had just lost a huge sum of money betting that Samuel Eto'o would score first.

Many fans blamed French coach Paul Le Guen for not starting Arsenal's Alex Song.

'Le Guen is not serious,' one fan told the German Press Agency dpa. 'At this rate, I can only advise them (the Indomitable Lions) to forget the World Cup.'

Cameroon now must seek positive results against the Netherlands and Denmark to have any chance of proceeding.