Soccer/Mali - 0, Cameroon - 3: Ireland's World Cup Group E opponents Cameroon sent hosts Mali crashing out of the African Nations Cup with an imperious performance which saw the defending champions advance to the final in Bamako yesterday.

The visitors could have won by more, as Pius Niefi saw a goal disallowed for offside and Lauren and Samuel Eto'o hit the woodwork.

Shorn of the services of Parma striker Patrick Mboma, out with a thigh strain, the Indomitable Lions still demonstrated plenty of verve.

They put the game beyond Mali with two goals from Salomon Olembe in six minutes near the end of the first half. Marc-Vivien Foe wrapped up the win with a third goal in the 83rd minute.

Ndiefi stepped into Mboma's shoes and the Sedan forward proved an adequate substitute as he played a key role in both Olembe goals.

Backed by an enthusiastic home crowd, Mali had held their own for most of the first half. But they were undone by a surging run by Ndiefi into the box in the 39th minute. The 26-year-old took the ball as far as the byline before cutting back a deadly pass for Marseille striker Olembe to slot home.

Olembe claimed his second on the stroke of half-time after working a lightning one-two with Ndiefi, which flashed through the Mali defences, before guiding the ball past Mahamadou Sidibe.

The second half was a more tepid affair with Mali struggling to find the attacking invention to surprise their more experienced visitors.

Djibril Sidibe tested Boukar Alioum with a long-range effort which the Cameroon goalkeeper fumbled, but no one in a white shirt was able to take advantage.

However, it was Cameroon who always looked likeliest to score again with Ndiefi, Eto'o and Lauren all going close.

So it proved when Foe was able to net a third goal after taking advantage of the gaping holes left at the back.

Cameroon go on to play fellow World Cup qualifiers Senegal in the final on Sunday, following their earlier 2-1 extra-time win over Nigeria.

But that game was nearly not played after amazing pre-match antics which saw Cameroon's goalkeeping coach Thomas Nkono handcuffed after a fight with at least 10 policemen on the pitch.

Cameroon players also clashed with police 90 minutes before kick-off as they attempted to get on to the pitch for a walkabout.

Nkono, who played in goal for Cameroon at two World Cups, was accused by the policeman of dropping "magic" on to the pitch, officials said.

He had been standing on the sidelines talking to team members and watching the stadium's big screen, which was showing pictures of the earlier semi-final between Nigeria and Cameroon.

Nkono was suddenly set upon by police and, after a brief argument, a punch-up ensued during which Nkono was thrown to the ground and handcuffed in full view of spectators.

He was carried off the pitch by a least eight policemen.

Nkono then walked over to the media area and furiously displayed his handcuffs to the international press. He was later released and returned, sobbing, to the team's dressing-room, where coach Winfried Schafer was refusing to go ahead with the game.

There was also an earlier punch-up outside the stadium's press centre between members of the Cameroonian staff and police when a policeman tried to grab the bag belonging to the team doctor.

"It is scandalous, we will not play," Schafer told reporters before CAF officials went into the Cameroon dressing-room to persuade them to change their mind.

CAMEROON: B Alioum; B Tchato, P Wome, R Song, R Kalla, Geremi, Lauren, M-V Foe, S Olembe (D Ngom Kome, 89), S Eto'o, P Ndiefi (P Suffo, 83)