We'd betray Foe if we didn't play final, say Cameroon

Sombre Cameroon insisted that they had a duty to play Sunday's Confederations Cup final against France and that not to do so would be a betrayal of fallen teammate Marc-Viven Foe.

"To stop would be an act of treason to Marco. Cameroon has a duty to go out and play to the end," said defender Lucien Mettomo, a teammate of Foe at Manchester City.

The 28-year-old Foe died after collapsing in his team's semi-final against Colombia in Lyon on Thursday sending shockwaves throughout the football community.

"I continue to speak about him in the present tense," added Mettomo.

"When I go back to my room or walk down the corridor I think I will see him there. I can't start to think about what happened.

"We must play to respect his memory, just like his wife and mother said to us. If we had refused, Marco would see us and say: 'I fell for what?'"

Cameroon skipper Rigobert Song said that all of the squad agreed that the match should go ahead.

"The decision to play is a sign of respect for Marco," said Song. "It was a unanimous decision taken by the whole delegation.

"He was a big brother to me. He was always cool. He was a year older than me and we grew up in the same area and we have shared many things.

"At half-time against Colombia, he said: 'Boys, we have to give everything and those that can't must be replaced'," said the Lens defender who also showed reporters a yellowing photograph of him with Foe when they played as juniors.

"His death is something I must work out in my head. He was very close to me," added Song.

Winfried Schaefer, the coach of the African champions, said the final against France will be "the most difficult he has had as a coach.

"But we must try and put on a good show for Marco and for all of Cameroon."

Mettomo said he didn't want to consider the outcome of the final.

"If I could predict the future, I would have been able to save Marco."