 Sierra Leone finished last in their group |
The African presence at the U-17 Fifa World Championship in Finland ended with the elimination of Cameroon and Sierra Leone on Wednesday. In what was arguably the most exciting group match of the tournament so far, Cameroon came from a 5-0 deficit to earn a draw 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 the African champions a quarter-final place.
Only a win would have given them the right to join Group C winners Brazil in the last eight.
The Lion Cubs leave the tournament as the only unbeaten African side.
Sierra Leone were not as lucky, as their 3-2 defeat to South Korea in Lahti left the West Africans stranded at the bottom of Group D.
The Sierra Stars came close to snatching victory as two strikes from Obi Metzger gave them a 2-1 lead until the 74th minute.
But Yang Dong Hyen and Lee Yong Rae scored the crucial 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.
MMIX
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