• World Cup

Ekotto in butting row as Cameroon crumble in Manaus

ESPN staff
June 19, 2014
Why did Cameroon under perform?

Cameroon coach Volker Finke has vowed to get to the bottom of why Benoit Assou-Ekotto head-butted team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo during their 4-0 defeat to Croatia.

Cameroon's heavy loss confirmed they cannot progress beyond the group stage of the tournament. Tempers flared in Manaus as Alex Song was sent off for an elbow in the back of Mario Mandzukic before Assou-Ekotto and Moukandjo clashed in the second half.

"It's unimaginable. I saw this happen and I need to find out exactly what happened, why exactly these two players exploded," Finke told the BBC. "I hate to see that. It's not the image of Cameroon I want to project."

Song, meanwhile, later apologised for his part in the off-the-ball scuffle with Mandzukic which resulted in the Barcelona player being shown a red card.

In a statement the 26-year-old said: "I'm very sad at the moment as I feel I have let my country and myself down.

"It was a stupid moment and I'm truly sorry. If I could do anything to take it back I would. Please forgive me.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close