Used to the competition, Cameroon will play this year their 7th finals of the World Cup. Even if the problems of premiums have once again littered preparations, the Indomitable Lions aim at surprising the whole world. Housed in Group A of the host country, Brazil, Eto’o and his partners will also face Mexico and Croatia. Observers of world football do not bill Volker Finke and foals favorites. But friendlies, especially the 2-2 tie against Germany raised doubts about a group that builds gradually.
Name: Cameroon Football Federation
Confederation: CAF
Foundation: 1959
Nickname: The Indomitable Lions
2014 World Cup slogan: A lion remains a lion
Chairman: Joseph Owona
Coach: Volker Finke
Participation in the World Cup: 1982, 1990, 1994, 19981 2002, 2010
Calendar
June 13: Cameroon – Mexico
June18: Cameroon – Croatia
June 23: Cameroon – Brazil
The Road to Brazil
Cameroon has passed through all states before qualifying for the finals of the World Cup. After turning Jean Paul Akono off and replacing him by the German engineer Volker Finke, they finished leaders ahead of Libya, DR Congo and Togo to play a playoff against Tunisia, following the defeat on green carpet of Cape Verde that fielded an ineligible player. After a draw in the first leg in Tunisia, Eto’o and his teammates have validated their ticket to Brazil thanks to their 4-1 victory at home.
History:
Unrecognizable in the last edition where they took zero point by aligning three losses at the end of the first round of the tournament in South Africa, the Indomitable Lions want to leave a mark on this 20th edition, synonymous with the 7th finals after those played in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010.
It was only in 1990 that Cameroonians offered a first qualification of Africans in the quarterfinals. Teammates of Roger Milla hoisted in the quarterfinals and argued all the potential of football in the black continent.
Star: Samuel Eto’o No need to get away. Samuel Eto’o will single-handedly handle this team of Cameroon. Emblematic player of the Indomitable Lions, the Chelsea striker will play his 4th final stage of the competition after the editions of 1998, 2002 and 2010, 16 years since his first appearance at this major event of the FIFA.
Perfect! But the Lion is more than dangerous according Thiago Silva. “We met when he played at Inter and I at AC Milan. I got aware of his potentials. He is an experienced player, exceptional, who often plays in great shape. He is a player with an impressive technical quality. He is a killer in small spaces. This is why he is the attacker that concerns the most “.
Player to watch: Vincent Abubakar
The German technician has built his team including young players with long teeth such as Vincent Abubakar. The 22-year-old will play his second World Cup after 2010 held in South Africa.The native Yaoundé who evolves at Lorient scored 16 goals and delivered 5 assists in 35 games.
Like many young talented players, the press compared him to the most glorious of his elders and may immediately become the successor of Samuel Eto’o. He made his debut with the Cameroon national team on May 29, 2010 against Slovakia in a friendly match. He scored his first goal for the Indomitable Lions on August 10, 2010 against Poland still in a friendly match.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Itandje, Charles (Kkonyaspor) N (D) Jock, Sammy (Fethiyesposss) Fedjou, Loic (Cotonsports Garoua)
Defenders: Nyom, Allan (Granada Cf) Djeugou Cedric (Cotonsports Garoua) Nounkeu Dany (Besiktas) Chedjou Aurelien (Galatasaray) Nkoulou, Nicolas (O. Marseille) Bedimo Henri (O. Lyon) Assou Ekotto Benoit (Queens Park Rangers)
Midfielders: Eyong, Enoh (Antalyaspor) Makoun, Jean Ii (Stade Rennes) Matip Joel (Schalke 04) Mbia, Stéphane (Fc Sevilla) N’guémo Landry (Bordeaux) Song Alexander (Fc Barcelona) Salli, Edgar (Fc Lens)
Forwards: Eto’o, Samuel (Chelsea Fc) Choupo Moting, Eric (Mainz 05) Moukandjo Benjamin (As Nancy-Lorraine) Aboubakar, Vincent (Fc Lorient) Webo Pierre Achille (Fenerbahce) Olinga Fabrice (Sv Zulte-Waregem)
Standard Team
Itandje – Djeugoue, Nkoulou, Chedjou, Bedimo – Song, Nguemo, Mbia – Abubakar, Eto’o, Choupo-Moting