Top Cameroon stars out of Bafana game

Experienced midfielder Alex Song will no longer be making his comeback for Cameroon against South Africa on Saturday after going back on a decision to return to international action, and the Indomitable Lions are also without Eric-Maxime Choupo Moting.

The West Ham United midfielder, on loan at the English Premier League side from Barcelona, had ostensibly agreed to end his boycott of the team in the wake of his fractious relationship with Samuel Eto'o and others during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The 28-year-old Song was named in Hugo Broos's squad after discussions in London with the new coach, but he has since told the Belgian he is not going to play against Bafana on Saturday in Limbe and then again in Durban on Tuesday. He has a long history of niggling injuries to add to his disdain with the setup around the Cameroon.

Georges Mandjeck, from French second division side Metz, has been called up in Song's place. Choupo-Moting, who plays for Bundesliga giants Schalke 04, pulled out with injury having not played since late last month at club level.

Also out of the two matches is Ambroise Oyongo, who is based in Major League Soccer with Montreal Impact and is a teammate of Didier Drogba's.

His replacement is Abouna Ntsana, who played against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday in the CAF Champions League for AC Leopards in Dolisie.

Cameroon began their training for the match against South Africa on Monday, with only key defender Nicolas Nkoulou, from Marseille in France, late for training sessions at the CAF technical centre at Mbankomo.