Broos bringing roar back to Lions

Belgian coach Hugo Broos has overcome numerous obstacles in transforming Cameroon into a team just one match away from winning the Africa Cup of Nations.

Before going to Gabon, Cameroon was dismissed as a no-hoper, its squad arguably the weakest it had ever sent to a Cup of Nations.

But after coming through their group at the expense of the host and beating Senegal on penalties in the last eight, the Indomitable Lions blanked Ghana 2-0 in Franceville on Thursday to set up a completely unexpected final against Egypt on Sunday.

"This team came here and nobody believed in them. If you told someone before the tournament we would get to the final they would have laughed, but this for us was a big motivation," Broos said on Thursday.

The 64-year-old Belgian has turned around the fortunes of a country that had been a disgrace at the 2014 World Cup and was knocked out of the 2015 Cup of Nations in the first round.

Those poor performances eventually led to the firing of German Volker Finke, and Broos was named as his replacement in February last year.

A former Belgian international who had enjoyed much success as a coach in his homeland, Broos also worked in Greece, Turkey, the Gulf and Algeria but had never managed a national team.

Yet he applied for the vacancy when it was advertised by the Cameroonian federation, convinced that he met the numerous demands, including having an extensive list of honors won as a player or coach - not to mention a good knowledge of powerpoint.

Under his stewardship, the Indomitable Lions, for so long the leading force on the continent, have lost just once - a 3-2 friendly verdict to France last May, when Dimitri Payet scored the winner in the final minute.

His players are glowing in their praise of Broos, citing improved discipline and a feeling of squad unity that had not been there previously.

He has even spoken out in their defense amid a dispute with team management over bonus payments.

"I think he has brought a bit more discipline because before, I won't say there was no discipline, but it is something he has really focused on. In football, if you have discipline everything else follows," said winger Edgar Salli.

Fullback Fai Collins added: "The coach has given us something extra, given the youngsters confidence to show what we can do.

"He talks about showing determination, about sticking together as a group because there were problems before, but I think he has tried to overcome them."

The biggest problem for Broos was the raft of refusals from established players to accept call-ups for the Cup of Nations.

The list is a long one, but among the well-known names absent in Gabon are Schalke striker Eric Choupo-Moting, Liverpool defender Joel Matip and Allan Nyom of West Bromwich Albion.

A lack of experience was expected to hinder the squad, and Broos is eager to point out now that 14 of his players had never previously been to the Cup of Nations.

Of the team that started against Ghana, only skipper Benjamin Moukandjo plays in one of Europe's big five leagues. His club, Lorient, is at the bottom of France's Ligue 1.

"Maybe you will be surprised but in 29 years as a coach I have never had a group like this," Broos said.

"They are 23 friends. I have never seen this in all my years in the game.

"They are just 23 friends who like to play football and do everything to win the game, so for me it's very easy."

Meanwhile, the coach said "the door is always open" for those who refused to come to Gabon.

But for now his focus is on Sunday's final as Cameroon, with huge support behind it given the number of Cameroonian expats living in Gabon, looks to nail down a fifth Cup of Nations title and first since 2002.