The Indomitable Lions will not be so thankful, having played some of their best football of the tournament on Monday.
The Indomitable Lions appeared to be on course for their fifth successive World Cup finals when Portugal-based striker Rudolph Douala scored in the 21st minute.
German Winfried Schafer, who managed Cameroon at the World Cup, described his experience with the Indomitable Lions as a success, despite their first round exit.
Song'o was called upon to make two important saves, which denied Racing a point and brought back memories of his halcyon days with the Indomitable Lions.
Eto'o will be a key part of the Indomitable Lions plans, and the Federation, Fecafoot, says it is essential that he joins the squad on time.
"Courage, respect for themselves, their coach and most of all, for their opponents, were the keys behind the glory of the Indomitable Lions, " the Cameroon manager explained.
The Indomitable Lions, chasing a record-equalling fifth Nations Cup title, will assemble in Yaounde for two days on 4 January and then travel to Nairobi for pre-tournament preparations.
However, his exploits with the Indomitable Lions were limited as they were knocked out early in both the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup in South Africa.
An away win will ensure top place in Group One for the Indomitable Lions, whose failure to qualify for the 2006 finals came after they had competed in the four previous events.
He told members of the Indomitable Lions that the Confederation of African Football have told him that he will be named the continent's top player of 2004 at their annual awards dinner in Durban on Tuesday.
The 45-year-old Frenchman -- who will lead the side known as the 'Indomitable Lions' for the first time against Austria -- follows in the footsteps of Winfried Schafer, Artur Jorge, Arie Haan and latterly Otto Pfister to become the African nations fifth European coach since 2004.
Eto'o was only 17 when he appeared in the 1998 tournament in France but the "Indomitable Lions" failed to qualify for the last World Cup in Germany.
Achille Webo and Samuel Eto were both on the scoresheet for the 'Indomitable Lions' who will set a new African record of six World Cup appearances in South Africa.
The not so Indomitable Lions displayed arrogance and a palpable degree of conceit, and failed in their attempt to become the only nation to win three straight African Cups and five overall.
The Hawks of Togo needed to win this final Group A game by three clear goals against the highly-fancied Indomitable Lions.
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