Cameroon star Eto'o sends painful warning to Gabon

Zambia belied their lowly world ranking to emerge as surprise Group D winners ahead of continental giants Cameroon as the Africa Cup of Nations' first round came to a nerve-jangling climax on Thursday.With a superb 2-1 win over Gabon, Zambia jumped from bottom to top of their mini-league to earn a quarter-final date with Nigeria.World Cup qualifiers Cameroon had to come from behind to draw 2-2 with Tunisia, a result that left them second in the table and facing defending champions Egypt in a re-run of the 2008 final in Ghana.

Gabon became the latest underdogs at the Africa Cup of Nations to punch above their weight when they claimed the scalp of continental giants Cameroon with a 1-0 win on Wednesday.Later, in Lubango, 2004 champions Tunisia were unable to capitalise on Cameroon's slip up when they escaped with a 1-1 draw against Zambia to leave Group D wide open.Angola 2010 is fast earning a reputation as a tournament of upsets, with Angola squandering a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 draw against Mali, Algeria whipped 3-0 by Malawi, and Ivory Coast held by Burkina Faso.

Cameroon football supporters were contemplating the unthinkable just two months ago - a second consecutive World Cup without their national team.The country that had qualified a record five times from Africa were bottom of Group 1 in the final elimination phase for the 2010 tournament in South Africa.Minnows Gabon had six points after two rounds, shock 2006 qualifiers Togo four and Morocco and Cameroon one each with the 'Indomitable Lions' last on goals scored.

Experienced French coach Paul Le Guen, who led Cameroon at the 2010 World Cup, was on Saturday named as the new boss of the Oman national team, officials said.Le Guen succeeds compatriot Claude Leroy who was sacked after Oman's poor performance at the last Gulf Cup.The new coach will arrive in the country on June 27 before Oman's friendlies against Kuwait and Lebanon.Those matches are part of the preparation for qualifying for the next World Cup with the Asian zone kicking off later this year.

Zambia coach Herve Renard hopes his players have short memories as they prepare to face Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations Sunday.After making a losing start to the previous tournament in Ghana two years ago, the Indomitable Lions roared back with a 5-1 mauling of the Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets).And after Cameroon were stunned 1-0 by central Africa neighbours Gabon three days ago, Renard has warned his squad that a wounded lion is an animal to be feared.

Samuel Eto'o converted a hotly disputed penalty to earn injury-hit champions Inter Milan a point in a disappointing 1-1 home draw with newly promoted Brescia on Saturday.Andrea Caracciolo had given stubborn Brescia a first half lead but Eto'o notched his 17th goal in 16 games in this incredible season for the Cameroon captain after he himself went down in the box.However, TV replays showed Eto'o had fallen over after treading on the ball under pressure from Gaetano Berardi.

Cameroon's Treble-winning striker Samuel Eto'o has Japan in his sights as the "Indomitable Lions" launch their World Cup bid on Monday against a misfiring Japan.Paul Le Guen's Cameroon, the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals two decades ago, hope Eto'o can inspire them in the same way as 38-year-old Roger Milla did in Italy in 1990.

Maicon scored a dazzling volley as Inter Milan went back to the top of the Serie A table with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Juventus at the San Siro on Friday.AS Roma can regain top spot on Sunday if they beat Lazio in the Rome derby.The stuttering champions won for only the fourth time in 12 league matches but the first-half sending off of Mohamed Sissoko proved crucial as Juve finally wilted under the nerazzurri's second period onslaught.Two goals in the final 15 minutes did for the visitors with Cameroon forward Samuel Eto'o tapping home an injury time second.