BY JOE APU
Former Indomitable Lions of Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell is of the belief that Nigeria’s pole position in the Russia 2018 World Cup is only momentary as his country will upturn Nigeria’s chances of winning the sole ticket.
The goalkeeper, who was in goal for the Lions when Nigeria suffered defeats in the hands of Cameroon revealed this much in a chat with a Nigerian journalist, Osasu Obayuwana in Franceville, Gabon, at the end of the AFCON 2016 quarter-final game between Cameroon and Senegal which took a penalty shootout to resolve.
“Jojo”, as he is fondly called boasted that Cameroon, even though they have just two points in the final round of 2018 WC qualifiers – and Nigeria’s Super Eagles have six – will still snatch the ticket.
He began by reminding the reporter how many times Nigeria has been bested by Cameroon, with Roger Milla smiling as he talked.
This bus was full of Cameroonians, including Geremi Njitap, who were excitedly listening to all Bell said, in English and French.
But Obayuwana would have nothing of Bell’s tantrums.
“Yes, you have beaten us in three AFCON final games,” I told him.
“But you know, very well, that only the victory in 1984 was clean. The second, at Morocco 1988, we were cheated. Roger tricked the referee (Idrissa Saar of Mauritania) into giving him a fake penalty. And the clean goal of Henry Nwosu was disallowed,” I told him.
“As for the 2000 Nations Cup, the Tunisian referee (Mourad Daami) denied us a penalty goal that Victor Ikpeba scored. We have been cheated many times in the AFCON final.
“We are in the World Cup qualifying driving seat now and you will never take over. We beat Zambia away and Zambia disgraced you at home. And we will do the same to you,” Obayuwana told Bell.
But Jojo did not let up, insisting that Nigerian players tremble when they face the Indomitable Lions and they will never get over that mental block.
“August will soon be here and you shall see,” Bell said.