Nigeria Provides Latest Setback for Cameroon

Cameroon’s national soccer team is known as the “Indomitable Lions” and has been the darling of world tournaments since Roger Milla’s well-documented goal celebrations at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

But the luster seems to be wearing off a bit with the latest example coming at the African Nations Cup on Sunday.

Jay-Jay Okocha scored on a curling free kick just before halftime and John Utaka scored the winner with about 17 minutes left to give Nigeria a 2-1 comeback victory over two-time defending champion Cameroon in a quarterfinal match at Monastir, Tunisia.

Cameroon, which was eliminated during the group stage of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, had taken a 1-0 lead on a goal by Samuel Eto’o, his first of the tournament.

In another quarterfinal, Morocco scored two overtime goals to defeat Algeria, 3-1, at Sfax, Tunisia, in the first meeting involving the North African rivals in 16 years.

Morocco’s Marouane Chamakh scored late in regulation injury time to send the game into overtime where Youssef Hadji scored twice to give his team the victory.

Algerian fans, angry that a possible victory slipped away after an 84th-minute goal by Abdelmalek Cherrad, rioted afterward, throwing plastic chairs at Moroccan players and clashing with police.

In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Tunisia eliminated Senegal, 1-0, and Mali edged Guinea, 2-1.

Wednesday’s semifinals will match Nigeria against Tunisia and Morocco against Mali.

Mexican League

UNAM Pumas moved to the top of their group in the Mexican league after getting two goals from Bruno Marioni for a 3-2 victory over Santos Laguna.

Pumas joined Toluca, Chiapas and Chivas of Guadalajara as group leaders after four rounds of the Clausura championship.

In other games Sunday, Irapuato got its first victory for Coach Alex Guimaraes, the former Costa Rican national team coach, with a 2-1 decision over Monterrey. One of Irapuato’s goals was scored by former San Jose Earthquake Mauricio Solis.

On Saturday, Chivas got a goal from defender Hector Reynoso for a 1-0 victory over defending champion Pachuca.

In other games, Chiapas defeated Necaxa, 1-0, on a goal by Salvador Cabanas, and Toluca knocked off Morelia, 2-0, on goals by Manuel De La Torre and Paulo Da Silva.

European Roundup

There were no changes atop Europe’s top leagues -- Spain, Italy and England -- with the leaders doing what was necessary to maintain their No. 1 standings.

In Spain, Real Madrid remained perfect this season in 11 matches at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after a 2-1 victory over visiting Malaga to stay two points ahead of Valencia.

Ronaldo scored his league-leading 19th goal for Madrid. Roberto Carlos also scored.

European champion AC Milan maintained its five-point lead in the Italian league after a 2-1 victory over Perugia on goals by Rui Costa and Andrea Pirlo.

In the English Premier League, Arsenal pushed its unbeaten streak to a club-record 24 matches (17-0-7) after a 3-1 victory over Wolves on Saturday.

Arsenal, which is two points ahead of Manchester United, got goals from Dennis Bergkamp, Kolo Toure and Thierry Henry, who tied United’s Ruud Van Nisterooy with his league-high 17th.

Ionel Ganea, signed by the Wolves over the Galaxy’s Carlos Ruiz last month, scored the lone goal for his team.

MLS Expansion Issues

Major League Soccer’s plans to expand to Cleveland by 2005 have apparently hit a snag.

Ohio businessman Bert Wolstein, who in November signed a letter of intent to build a 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, said he will not be able to pull off the project unless he receives help from Cleveland’s city government or from that of a nearby suburban community.

He has received little response and recently issued a 60-day ultimatum for officials to join his cause or else he said he will abandon his efforts.

“I’m flabbergasted by how little momentum has developed,” Wolstein told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “I’m not out there begging them to do this. If you don’t want it, you won’t get it and life goes on. I’m offering them an opportunity for an economic engine.”

Quick Passes

Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, who in December said he was retiring, has postponed those plans and joined Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield.... Australian Harry Kewell, who plays for Liverpool in the English Premier League, was selected player of the year in Oceania for the third time in six years.

-- Compiled by Jim Barrero