Cameroon continued their preparations for the defence of their title in Tunisia next year with a 0-0 draw against Japan in Oita on Wednesday. The African champions subjected the home side to a second-half onslaught but the reigning Asian champions – fielding the likes of captain Hidetoshi Nakata, Junichi Inamoto and Shinji Ono – held firm.
The Indomitable Lions’ best chance came two minutes into the second half when they were denied a certain goal after striker Jean Makoun’s point-blank shot was blocked by a superb sliding tackle from defender Keisuke Tsuboi.
Eleven minutes later, Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki produced a scrambling save to beat out a free-kick from Geremi Njitap and substitute Nana Falemi then shaved the post with the rebound.
Although Cameroon’s 19-year-old goalkeeper Idriss Kameni was briefly called into action at the other end, it was the home side who were under the greater pressure and Narazaki rescued his team again when saving bravely at the feet of substitute Achille Webo after 73 minutes.
Patrick Mboma, who thought his international career was over, started the match and nearly opened the scoring after 31 minutes but his strike went just wide of the left-hand post.
The veteran striker nearly struck again late on but any hopes of scoring on his recall were dashed as Narazaki was again equal to the shot.
The friendly was Japan’s final warm-up match before the Asian nation begins its qualifying campaign for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
The last time the two teams met in the northern city of Niigata for the June 2001 Confederations Cup, Japan won 2-0.
Teams:
Japan: 1-Seigo Narazaki; 2-Nobuhisa Yamada, 5-Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, 3-Keisuke Tsuboi, 14-Alex; 18-Shinji Ono, 7-Hidetoshi Nakata (captain), 6-Junichi Inamoto, 10-Toshiya Fujita (19-Yasuhito Endo 80); 13-Atsushi Yanagisawa (20-Yoshito Okubo 69), 9-Naohiro Takahara
Cameroon: 1-Idriss Kameni (16-Eric Kwekeu 46); 13-Lucien Mettomo, 6-Pierre Njanka (21-Nana Falemi 25), 5-Timothee Atouba, 3-Bill Tchato (15-Gustave Bahoken 64); 2-Jean Joel Perrier Doumbe, 8-Geremi Njitap (captain), 20-Marcus Mokake (14-Joel Epalle 46), 19-Eric Djemba Djemba (18-Achille Webo 68); 10-Patrick Mboma (23-Daniel Ngom 80), 7-Jean Makoun
Referee: Lu Jun (China)
