The Cameroon international defender who plays for club Valenciennes in French Ligue 2 reacts to the draw of the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon drawn in the same group as Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Guinea. He dissects each opponent of the indomitable Lions and analyzes their chances in Pool D.
What is your assessment of the draw that put Cameroon in the same group as Ivory Coast, Guinea and Mali?
For me, this is a complicated group. It is not easy because Ivory Coast, Mali and Guinea are big football nations with very large players. Once we have set ourselves, we have to prepare well and go to the AFCON in mind that these are just as serious opponents that all countries will take part in this competition.
In this group, there was Ivory Coast that seems a priori as the most formidable opponent you've beaten (4-1) and pulled a (0-0) draw in the second leg.You should nevertheless be wary of Elephants, right? First, we played the return match in Ivory Coast as all games and precisely like that of going where we won 4-1. Even being trained, we gave it our best because we wanted to win this game. Ivory Coast is a great nation, Cameroon too, with great players and we are fighting for. The playoffs are over; it is now in the final phase. We know that the game will progress, and we must not underestimate the Ivory Coast. We will approach the game like we are used to.
You also have Mali in the competition. What do you think?
Obviously, Mali finished third at the last two editions. This is proof that it is a very great team with great players like Seydou Keita, Sigamary Diarra who is my club-mate. It should not be underestimated as I have already said.
What was the reaction of your team-mate Diarra when he knew you play in the same group?
When they pulled us I sent him a text message (sic). And he told me he was glad we are in the same group. We laughed. We are both happy at first that our two nations are qualified for this competition. Now we wait and hope that everyone will do his best with his team in the competition.
What about Guinea, who qualified at the expense of Togo, and is ranked higher than Cameroon in the last Fifa publication whereas seen as underdog?
I do not believe that Guinea is the underdog of the group. I would again like to clarify that Guinea is not a small nation and no other team is neglected in this competition. It is important that Cameroon addresses all his matches as a final.
What is the hope that you make to the place of Cameroon for this African Cup?
I would like to make a very good African Nations Cup. And it requires good preparation. We arrived there with a desire to forget our absence in the last two editions. We all welded behind this team and that everyone, here I am referring to players, gives the best of it, whether in the field or on the bench.
