Facts & figures: Cameroon

Previous appearances in finals: Five

Best performance: Quarter-finalists in 1990

Coach:

Paul Le Guen, a championship-winning coach with French side Olympique Lyon, took a short-term contract with Cameroon in July when they were bottom of their group.

He proved inspirational, producing a big turnaround in attitude on the back of a desire to build a professional set-up around the team.

His plans resonated with the players who responded by winning four successive qualifiers and booking their place in South Africa.

Key players:

Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan). Age: 28. Forward.

Eto'o has had a distinguished career including two Champions League winners' medals with Barcelona and double success in the African Nations Cup finals where he is the tournament's record scorer.

Jean Makoun (Olympique Lyon). Age: 26. Midfielder.

Makoun is the driving force for Cameroon and has considerable tournament experience at three Nations Cup finals. A 14-million-euro ($21.07-million) signing by Lyon in 2008, Makoun initially made his name at Lille.

Achille Webo (Mallorca). Age: 27. Forward

Scorer of important goals for his country, he has spent his entire professional career in Spanish soccer and is a dangerman up front.

FIFA world ranking November 2009: 11

How they qualified:

Four successive wins ensured Cameroon finished top of their group by four points. They had been in serious trouble with only one point from two games which led to two coaching changes in as many matches.

The turnaround came when the team had to play neighbours Gabon twice in five days in September and won both games.

Prospects:

Cameroon have a good chance of bettering their last-eight finish in 1990. They were a side in transition but now have a balanced team with exciting new prospects such as Alexandre Song and Stephane Mbia.