Patrick Mboma believes Cameroon could go all the way and win a record fifth African Nations Cup title here to wipe away the disappointment of the country's early exit from the last World Cup.
At the last World Cup in South Korea and Japan, the Indomitable Lions were widely expected to surpass the quarter-final placing they had achieved at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
But instead, they failed to survive a first round group that included eventual finalists Germany, Ireland and Saudi Arabia.
"Our failure at the 2002 World Cup remains my greatest disappointment in life," said Mboma, who has so far netted four goals at Tunisia 2004.
"It is therefore very important to me and the team as a whole that we win the Cup in Tunisia."
The 33-year-old striker has insisted that the overall success of the team in Tunisia will take precedence over his own personal quest to better Pokou's all-time mark.
"I can't hide the fact that the record interests me but I'm not suddenly going to be a selfish striker who cares only for his own interests," said the 2000 African Footballer of the Year.
"I will aim at both targets. If we win the cup and I score three or four more goals, I will be the happiest man on earth. But my personal ambition should not come before the expectations of millions of Cameroonians."
The former Paris Saint Germain star maintained that his recall to the Nations Cup after he was initially dropped by German coach Winfried Schafer has ensured he put the whole cvontroversy behind him.
"It was difficult for me to accept that I was not part of the team but I was able to sit back and try to accept the fact I was not part of the team," he said.
"But it was a pleasant surprise to be recalled and that allowed me to forget the whole thing and now I'm enjoying my time here."
Mboma also said he believes the defending champions, who have struggled to reach the last eight, will improve as the tournament progresses.
"We have drawn two matches and won one. We have conceded goals just as we have scored. We will try to score more goals. It won't be easy because the other teams left in the competition also want to win. But our quality, confidence and unity make me very confident," he said.
"The players believe in what we can do and that it is most important because we have to first be sure of our chances."