AFRICAN NATIONS CUP: Defending champions Cameroon preserved their 100 per cent record at the African Nations Cup yesterday with a 3-0 win over Togo in their final Group C match.

The Republic of Ireland's World Cup opponents, who had already won the group, made it three wins out of three thanks to second-half goals from Lucien Mettomo, Samuel Eto'o and Salomon Olembe.

Togo, who faded badly after the break, should have gone ahead in the 16th minute, but striker Abdelkader Coubadja missed an open goal from three yards when the ball rebounded to him after a save by Cameroon goalkeeper Boukar Alioum.

There was a similar miss early in the second half when Michel Dogbe, with the goal at his mercy, missed his kick after Coubadja pulled the ball back from the byline.

Cameroon were subdued in the first 45 minutes, only mustering a handful of attempts on goal.

They did get the ball in the back of the net midway through the opening period, Marc Vivien Foe heading in a Geremi Njitap corner only for it to be disallowed after Eto'o was adjudged to have fouled Kossi Agassa.

Their first goal came on 52 minutes, when Njitap swept a cross in from the right flank and Manchester City defender Mettomo arrived on the back post to sidefoot home.

Real Mallorca's Eto'o made sure of Cameroon's third win at the Babemba Traore Stadium 10 minutes from time, tapping in a Patrick Mboma pass, although Togo were adamant that both players were offside.

The third goal came on 89 minutes when Marseille midfielder Olembe, a second-half substitute, met a cross from Eto'o on the right with a crisp finish from six yards.

Cameroon will meet the second-placed side from Group D, expected to be either Egypt or Zambia, in next Monday's quarter-finals.

The Democratic Republic of Congo beat the Ivory Coast 3-1 in Tuesday's other Group C match to join Cameroon in the last eight.