2015 AFCON Special: The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon

The longevity of any football super power depends on the ability to replace the aging players with young energetic ones, when age and fatigue takes its toll on the playing squad. The case of the Spaniards is a living testimony of why the 2010 world champions were spank by the Dutch in Brazil.

The squad that won them trio of successive titles was too old to be sustained, something they have learnt now. If that statement is to hold, then the indomitable lions have learnt their lesson by replacing the golden era of Samuel Eto’s and company with a youthful powerhouse led by French based attacker, Vincent Abubakari.


The indomitable lions might just want to forget their trauma in Brazil by putting on some impressive displays in group D.


Having won the title on 4 different occasions, the roaring lions are reminiscent of the squad that won back to back titles in 2000 and 2002. Then led by a certain Rigobert song and a young attacking prodigy in Samule Eto, it took the brilliance of Austin Okocha’s free kick to deny them a third successive final in 2004.


They might not have commanded the respect they used to garn, but their 110 goals scored in the tournament is bettered by only the fearsome Ivorians and a goal shy of the Black stars of Ghana . Their tournament records have been slightly consistent, as they are always fighting for the trophy biennially. Rule them out at your own peril.


With a strong qualification campaign manifested in their lone goal conceded and no defeat in the process, their 9 goals scored needs some recommendations. With quality strikers in the mould of Shalke 04’s Eric Maxim Chippo Moutin, or FC Porto’s Abubakari Vincent, the striking options for Volke Finke may be one of those friendly problems encountered by coaches.


They have quality strikers good enough to replicate the goal scoring abilities of their retired legend, Samuel Eto’o Fils. This was replicated in the average goal to minute ratio, pegged at a goal every 62.44 minutes, bettered by only three nations in the qualifiers.

Unsurprisingly, the indomitable lions are back to their good old days, viz a viz, their defensive solidity. Only 1 goal conceded in 562 minutes of qualification campaign sums up their defensive mechanism.


With the luxury of dropping in form former Gunners midfielder in Alex Song, one can only imagine how good the replacement can be.


The enigmatic but charismatic Stephanie Mbia leads the midfield quartet announced by their German trainer, Volke Finke. Fabrice Ondua from the la Massia academy in Barcelona is the surprise inclusion into the goalkeeping department.


HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS AGAINST GROUP OPPONENTS


En route to the finals, the Indomitable Lions will need to outmuscle opponents like Ivory Coast, Mali and Guinea at the first phase of the continental show piece. We go the extreme of comparing them on head to head basis, seen in the figures below.


Appearance: 17th

Debut: 1970


MP- 71 MW-37 MD -20 ML- 14 GS-110 GC- 67


Best FINISH: CHAMPIONS IN 1984, 1988, 2000 AND 2002


MATCH FACTS AGAINST GROUP OPPONENTS NATION MP MW MD ML MALI 7 4 3 0 IVORY COAST 17 7 5 5 GIUNEA 16 7 6 3 Note : The Ivorians were mauled by 4-1 in the qualification campaign while the reverse fixture ended stalemate in Abidjan.


STAR PLAYER TO WATCH:


In a star-studded team like the indomitable lions, any single player can spearhead affairs on his day. The nomination of Stephanie Mbia or Vincent Abubakari might be due to their consistency but not superiority over their colleagues.

The former Queen’s Park Rangers no-nonsense midfielder, who now plies his trade in Seville is a type of midfielder whose importance is felt only when he is missing. Mbia is noted for his accurate and precise distribution of passes, hard tacking and a visionary reader of the game as well. He is the type of player any coach will like to go hunting with. The Alonso or the Paul Scholes.


Vincent Abubakari might not be a household name, but he may be after the 2015 continental gathering if he is to replicate his form in the French ligue A or the Portuguese premera liga. The Yaounde born attacker has left a lasting legacy in the heart of Lorient supporters in the French league before moving to pastures new. His time with the Portuguese giants may not be as good as he hoped but his qualities remain unblemished.


Supported by other familiar faces like Eric Maxim Chippou Moutin, Nicholas Nkoulou and Jean Jacques Zoua, any analytical mind will be reluctant to rule out the 2002 continental champions from the trophy at stake. Are they ready to end their 12 year wait for a title? They might not be wrong after all?


SQUAD TO BE USED


Spoiled with chances in all departments bar their goal keeping dilemma, Volke Finke released lengthy list of quality players from across the entire positions to fight for the continental crown. Reminiscent of the 2000 and 2002 squads that last won the continental bragging right; the squad is deep enough to contain any injury setback or lost of form. The list is seen below:


CAMEROON NATIONS CUP SQUAD -GROUP D

Goalkeepers: Pierre Sylvain Abogo (Tonnerre Yaounde), Guy Ndy Assembe (Nancy), Fabrice Ondoa (Barcelona B)


Defenders: Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Nicolas NKoulou (Marseille), Henri Bedimo (Lyonnais), Frank Bagnack (Barcelona B), Ambroise Oyongo (New York Red Bulls), Brice N’Late (Marseille)


Midfielders: Eyong Enoh (Standard Liege), Stephane Mbia (Seville), Raoul Loe (Ossasuna), Edgar Salli (Academica), Georges Mandjeck (Kesit Sport), Franck Kom (Etoile du Sahel), Patrick Ekeng (Cordoba)


Forwards: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Schalke), Benjamin Moukandjo (Reims), Vincent Aboubakar (Porto), Leonard Kweuke (Caykur Rizespor), Clinton Njie (Lyonnais), Franck Etoundi (Zurich), Jacques Zoua Daogari (Kayseri Erciyesspor)