Sad end for Africa

The African presence at the Under-17 World Championship in Finland has ended with the elimination of Cameroon and Sierra Leone on Wednesday. In what can be described as the most exciting group match of the tournament, Cameroon came from a 0-5 deficit to earn a draw in their last tie against Portugal in Tampere.

Cameroon's five goals were scored in the last half hour of the match but they were not enough to earn a quarter-final place.

Only a win would have given them the right to join Group C winners Brazil in the quarter-finals.

The Lion Cubs leave the tournament as the only unbeaten African side.

Sierra Leone were not as lucky, as their 3-2 loss to South Korea in Lahti put the west Africans at the bottom of Group D.

The Sierra Stars came close to snatching victory, as two strikes from Obi Metzger in the 36th and 51st minutes gave them a 2-1 lead until the 74th minute.

But Yang Dong Hyen and Lee Yong Rae scored late minute goals which sealed victory for the South Koreans.

Sierra Leone's appearance in Finland was the first time that the country had qualified for a Fifa championship.

Nigeria, the third African representative, were knocked out on Tuesday.