Efficiency the watchword as Cameroon progress

By Brian Homewood

TAMALE (Reuters) - Cameroon coach Otto Pfister and his captain Rigobert Song emphasised the team's efficiency after the Indomitable Lions reached the African Nations Cup quarter-finals.

A 3-0 win over table-propping Sudan on Wednesday took Cameroon into the last eight as they bounced back from their opening match defeat by Egypt.

In between, they thumped Zambia 5-1.

Despite the scoreline, Cameroon looked lethargic and plodding for much of Wednesday's game and needed a penalty, a bizarre own goal and an injury-time breakaway to overcome opponents who lost all their games and failed to score.

Their passing in midfield was often sloppy and they let Sudan take the initiative for much of the second half.

Pfister, however, dismissed suggestions that the perennial title candidates could do better.

"The questions are always negative," he told reporters.

"No other team has scored 10 goals in the group stage. We were playing against a team who had nothing to lose... we totally dominated the first half and I'm happy that we have qualified.