Cameroon`s attempts to secure the services of three key players for this weekend`s crucial Olympic qualifier in Mali have failed.
Cameroon need at least a draw in their final Group B game to reach Athens and defend the Olympic gold medal the country won at Sydney 2000.
Yet the team will have to do without the services of Modeste Mbami, Jean Makoun and Marcus Mokake after their respective coaches refused to release the France-based players.
Mbami plays for Paris Saint-Germain, Makoun for Lille while Mokake turns out for Sedan in the second division.
Cameroonian sports director Robert Ndzana led a three-man delegation to France last week, but failed to negotiate the release of the listed players on a five-day visit.
"The club officials said the players were very vital to them," Ndzana said.
"All the coaches offered similar reasons for not letting go the players."
Cameroon will miss
Mokake, who has scored four of Cameroon`s ten goals along the team`s path to the summit of Group B.
"Sedan officials stressed that they have reviewed their objectives since Mokake joined the club three months ago, so it was impossible for Cameroon to use him," Ndzana added.
The absence of Mbami and Makoun will also be felt since both players were members of Cameroon`s 2004 Cup of Nations squad.
However, one player who was in Tunisia on Nations Cup duty will also be in Mali for the Olympic clash.
The Indomitable Lions` first-choice goalkeeper Idriss Kameni is already with the team in camp in Cameroon preparing for the game.
Kameni stood out in Sydney since he was just 16 when Cameroon became the second African nation to win the Olympic football tournament, with the youngster saving a penalty in the final against Spain.
Nigeria were the first African side to win Olympic gold when they triumphed at Atlanta `96.
