Cameroon survived a wobble against Tunisia to make it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ thanks to a 4-1 win in Yaounde, making it six visits to the global finals in the last seven for the West Africans.
First-half strikes from Pierre Webo and Benjamin Moudandjo had put the hosts in control at the break as passage to next years finals looked a safe bet. However Ahmed Akaichi's strike after the break had Volker Fink's side worried until a Jean Makoun brace settled nerves ahead of the emphatic celebrations of the home crowd.
Cameroon began on top and it did not take long to make it count. Webo, who missed a gilt-edged chance in Rades, wasted no time at all in trying to remedy his error, pouncing on a some hesitant defending before finished smartly, firing across goal and in off the far right post.
Tunisia struggled to find their feet after such an early set-back, with Cameroon confidently dictating play. Fakhreddine Ben Youssef looked to be gaining a foothold for Tunisia, working space for himself in the off the right flank, but they were knocked back again moments later.
The visitors were left wanting at the back again as Moudandjo profited to push Cameroon further ahead. The Nancy man picked up the ball midway in the Tunisia half, and when he turned he looked like he had one thing on his mind. Bursting in between two defenders, and coasting past another, he kept his head down and slotted the ball into the near corner to secure a fine goal.
The crowd in Yaounde were bouncing, with Brazil seemingly in sight and the sun beating down, with the closest Tunisia coming when a dangerous free-kick by Wissem Ben Yahia was headed over.
Ruud Krol saw no need for caution after the break as captain Yassine Chikhaoui and Amine Chermiti making way, and they paid off almost instantly. The second period was only six-minutes-old when a ball over the top found substitute Akaichi in behind the defence and from just outside the area he thumped a half-volley beyond Itandje.
The rhythm of play shifted instantly, with Tunisia just one away from reaching Brazil on away goals and Cameroon looking nervous. Volker Fink knew the Indomitable Lions could not sit on their lead, with the arrival of Eric Choupo Moting a signal of their attacking intent.
Goalscorer Akaichi almost scored an unfortunate own goal, deflecting Stephane M'Bia's header narrowly over, but the Carthage Eagles were undone from a corner soon after. Jean Makoun was left with far too much space at the near-post to reach Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross, to leave the visitors with it all to do again.
Moudandjo could have wrapped the game up with 20 minutes to go but, with Tunisia appealing for offside, Samuel Eto'o fed Moudandjo inside the area only for his first shot to be saved by Moez Ben Cherifia, while his second was fired over with the goal at his mercy.
Makoun did however make sure of the win, tapping in after Choupo Moting hit the base of the post.
