Cameroon

As an extremely excited 14 year old boy, I remember waking up early in the morning, somewhere around 7, to watch Ireland’s first game in the 2002 World Cup against the African nation in the group – Cameroon. The Mick McCarthy/Roy Keane fiasco had preceded the match, yet with many star names in the Irish team, the anticipation was high.

39minutes in and a mazy run by Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o, having been found by Geremi, enabled Mboma to bundle the ball home to go 1-0 up. Matt Holland later replied for the leprechaun nation before the Irish went on to progress through Group E, which contained a lacklustre Saudi Arabia and eventual finalists Germany. Cameroon, went home.

That was the last time we witnessed The Indomitable Lions on the world stage. Although, not only do some familiar names remain in the squad, but they are Africa’s most successful nation, having qualified for this tournament on 5 occasions, even reaching the quarter-finals in Italia 90 where, in a pulsating game, they lost to an extra-time Gary Lineker penalty.

In the first World Cup to be held on African soil many feel the onus has been placed on Cameroon to represent the continent into the beginning of July. This is not surprising when the hosts – South Africa – are ranked a miserly 85th in the world, whereas the Ivory Coast and Ghana have been drawn in extremely difficult groups that either will do well to progress from and with Algeria being, well, just rubbish. Nigeria may offer Africa another glimpse of opportunity though.

Technically though, Cameroon is officially ranked in the hardest group in the tournament. The Netherlands (3), Japan (40), Denmark (27) and themselves (14) forming an accumulative total of 84 in the FIFA rankings, as oppose to Group F – Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia – who hit the dizzy heights of 141. FIFA rankings should always be taken with a more than a pinch of salt however. The Netherlands, as one of the tournaments favourites, should comfortably top the group, leaving the remaining three to fight it out.

Cameroon advanced through qualifying after a momentary blip, but after hiring ex-Rangers manager Paul Le Guen, the nation that introduced the world to the sleeveless “basketball esque” football shirt, were never in doubt of a place at the finals. Le Guen took the captaincy off an aging, but legendary, Rigobert Song and presented it to the man everyone in Cameroon looks up to, Inter Milan striker, Samuel Eto’o.

No one nation will be placing so much hope and expectation on one player. Eto’o really is the real deal though, 42 goals in 91 caps gives the hot-headed striker almost a 1:2 ratio, which in international football is phenomenal. To progress as far as Africans and neutrals desire, Eto’o needs to edge that little bit closer to 50international goals.

Despite the prominence of the Inter Milan striker, the West Africans do have some other recognisable names. Spurs will be represented at the back with Assou-Ekotto and Bassong continuing their partnership on the left-side of defence. Spurs local rivals Arsenal will also have some interest in the side, as Rigobert Song’s nephew, Alex, should command the midfield. Lyon’s Jean Makoun will play alongside Song in the centre, another man who specialises in breaking-up opposition play.

Cameroon face Japan first on the 14th June and Denmark on the 19th and if The Indomitable Lions have not already qualified after then, trouble awaits them in a tough remaining fixture against the Dutch. For the nation that leads the African fight on African soil, this last group game needs to be a non-entity.