Cameroon set for another title challenge

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Cameroon will be one of the few countries to be led by a former player – Rigobert Song – at next month’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

The Indomitable Lions could not stage a successful host-and-win in Cameroon last year as they settled for a respectable third place finish. However, Rigobert Song’s men will go to Ivory Coast, in high spirits. It is a country the Cameroonians know too well, having won one of their five titles there in 1984.

Cameroon’s Group C matches

January 15

Cameroon – Guinea: 17h00 GMT, Charles-Konan-Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

January 19

Senegal – Cameroon: 17h00 GMT, Stade Charles-Konan-Banny, Yamoussoukro

January 23

Gambia – Cameroon: 17h00 GMT, Stade de la Paix, Bouaké

How they qualified:

Despite having a mix of experienced and young exciting players, the five time African champions struggled during the qualifiers. They were the last of the twenty-four nations to qualify for Ivory Coast 2023. They booked their ticket with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Burundi on the last day to go top of Group C.

Player to watch: Vincent Aboubakar

Top scorer in the last AFCON with 8 goals, Vincent Aboubakar needs no introduction.

Typical of most Camerounian strikers, Aboubakar has no limitations in his game. He moves well, has great hold up play, exceptional aerial ability, presence of mind and is a ruthless finisher.

Since making his debut for the Indomitable Lions in 2010, the Besiktas striker has scored 37 goals in 98 appearances for Cameroun.

The coach: Rigobert Song

After first taking charge as care taker coach in 2018, Rigobert Song finally got the job as Cameroon’s substantive head coach when he replaced Toni Conceicao in Februuary 2022.

Since then, Rigobert Song has forged a team on the ideology of “hemlè”, the Cameroonian fighting spirit. Beyond tactical nous and orientation, Song values respect for ranks and authority. In the best exhibition of that principle, he dismissed Andre Onana from the World Cup in Qatar last year, for dissent. In an even admirable move, the former Cameroon defender reintegrated the Manchester United goalkeeper into the squad when he showed remorse for his action.

Song’s Cameroon often play an expansive attacking brand of football with emphasis on wing play and regular supply to the center forwards; Carl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar.

Cameroon AFCON record:

1970: 1st round

1972: Third

1982: 1st round

1984: Winner

1986: Finalist

1988: Winner

1990: 1st round

1992: Fourth

1996: 1st round

1998: Quarter-final

2000: Winner