2012 Nehru Cup: India want to achieve title hattrick, but Cameroon in the way

The final of the 2012 Nehru Cup will be played tonight between hosts and defending champions India and pre-tournament favourites Cameroon at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 19.00 IST. For India it is the chance to achieve a rare title hattrick after wins in 2007 and 2009, while the Africans take home the title for the first time.

Interestingly the two teams only met a couple of days ago in the round robin group stage, but both sides fielded a lot of their fringe and bench players and Cameroon won 1-0 in the end. That game did have some worth for both the coaches.

Wim Koevermans said at the post-match press conference, “They are ranked 59th in the World but the way our boys played against them was laudable. The bench is at par with the starting XI and that’s a very good sign for the future.”

“Cameroon are a top side and there is no denying that. They are physically very strong and have a lot of pace in their ranks. They may be better equipped than us. But we are prepared as well. Playing against Cameroon in itself is a great achievement. It’s a great exposure. We’ll take back a lot,” Koevermans added.

Koevermans will send his best eleven onto the field with Sunil Chhetri set to lead the team. After wins sgainst Syria in the last couple of finals the Cameroon team will be a different test for a newly knit together India squad.

The final Cameroon vs India will kick-off at 19.00 IST and the match will be live on Neo Prime with their broadcast set to start at 18.30 IST with their pre-match show.