Kameni still hopes to face Bafana

It would definitely be a miracle if Cameroon international goalkeeper, Carlos Kameni, shrugs off his injury and lines up to face South Africa in two 2017 Afcon qualifying matches this month.

Kameni has been ruled out of the two games after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee during Malaga's game against Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish La Liga last Saturday.

The 32-year-old Malaga CF goalkeeper had to undergo on Monday with the club stating that the medical team believes “his return to the field will depend on his recovery,” but the shot-stopper holds the quiet hope of returning between the sticks for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

It is believed that athletes can return from a torn meniscus after surgery within two weeks, and Kameni is now drawing hope from the experience of his manager at Malaga, Javi Gracia, who recovered from a similar injury during his time as a player within 22 days.

"I had the meniscus affected but other parts of the knee are intact. My coach reassured me that he had suffered the same injury and after 22 days he took part in games. We have a week to see what happens. The knee has not swollen which is a good thing. If all goes well, next week, I will start to jog and resume training at the end of the week. My body has never betrayed me," he told Le Jour.

Whether he recovers in time for the Afcon qualifiers against South Africa's Bafana Bafana, the decision to call up Kameni for the international games will rest on the decision of Cameroon head coach, Hugo Broos.

Cameroon play hosts to South Africa on March 23-26 while the return fixture holds on March 26-29. The Cameroonians lead with six points ahead of Mauritania, The Gambia and South Africa in that order.