Choupo-Moting will be key to Cameroon's success at AFCON 2015

As the sun continues to rise on this new dawn for the Cameroon national team, confidence is emanating from every player in the side, none more so than Eric Choupo-Moting.

With African Cup of Nations 2015 on the horizon, they will be looking to put their recent struggles at major tournaments to bed, with the ousting of some key players creating the belief that they may be able to go far.

New players are stepping up to fill the void, taking on a fresh responsibility and doing credit to the reputation the country holds as a footballing force, with no one more important to this grand plan than the Schalke forward.

For Cameroon, this is an era of putting the past behind them. This team is post-World Cup, after their absolutely abysmal showing in Brazil, with manager Volker Finke changing things liberally on the personnel front. Most importantly, however, this is the post-Eto'o era.

The ridding of their all-time top scorer and captain from the squad was a big step by Finke. Holding massive currency in terms of what he represented—not just to Cameroon, but to the whole of African football—the gamble has very much paid off.

With the shackles of such an ego removed, it has allowed the Indomitable Lions to roam free, and Choupo-Moting has stepped up to thrive in the void of responsibility in the team.

Without the various dressing-room shenanigans and constant need for attention that Eto'o craved, Cameroon have become a new team. No longer the misfiring group of individuals that blended together so rarely, the stripped-out version is now paying dividends in terms of results, even if the "on paper" squad is not quite as strong.

Only dropping four points and remaining unbeaten, Cameroon overcame a strong group, containing Ivory Coast, DR Congo and Sierra Leone, to advance to AFCON 2015 with flying colours.

Demonstrating remarkable competence at both ends of the pitch, scoring nine and conceding one in six games, it is little wonder why people are predicting great success for this side in Equatorial Guinea.

How Finke has managed the names in the side is smart. Bringing in a number of new, young faces, such as Barcelona 'B' goalkeeper Joseph Ondoa and Lyon forward Clinton N'Jie, he has also given responsibility to members of the existing setup as well.

Stephane Mbia was promoted to captain and has proved a fantastic asset both in midfield and defence, and the striking pair of Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Choupo-Moting were promoted as the vice-captains.

Whilst it might be possible to say Mbia and Aboubakar are more important to their side's chances than Choupo-Moting, with Mbia excelling under the captaincy and Aboubakar hitting four goals during qualification, Choupo-Moting brings a number of qualities to the team that his counterparts do not.

Firstly, there is the excellent form he is in domestically. Having hit 10 goals in all competitions this season, his summer move from Mainz to Schalke has truly brought out the best in the forward, becoming a consistent star among the chaos at the Bundesliga club. ESPN FC's Stefan Uersfeld had nothing but praise for the new man at the Veltins-Arena: With just over a third of the season played, it is safe to say that the signing of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has been more than just decent business for Schalke 04. Whereas strike partner Huntelaar rules the box, Choupo-Moting can be found outside, working the wings and going the extra mile. Overshadowed by the magnificent Aboubakar and N'Jie in qualifying, Choupo-Moting did not manage to recreate his Schalke form for Cameroon, failing to get on the scoresheet in the six games. However, having scored 12 goals in 34 games, the 25-year-old holds a decent scoring record for his country, and will no doubt be able to fill in should the younger members of the team be overwhelmed by the occasion in Equatorial Guinea. The role he plays for Cameroon, too, is important to bare in mind, and is absolutely vital to their success. Whilst a central berth alongside Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at the focal point of the attack is normal when playing for his club, Choupo-Moting occupies a role on the wing of a front three for his country, contributing to defensive duties more than he would otherwise.

A superb work rate and Cameroon's attempts to counter their opposition mean that Choupo-Moting has to put in a shift in terms of defensive work, helping reclaim the ball before using his pace to break forward with haste.

Self-sacrifice is a key component that comes with leadership, and his willingness to play this vital role for his team is a highly admirable one. Born to a German mother and a Cameroonian father, Choupo-Moting admitted in an interview with FIFA that he feels just as German as he does Cameroonian, but the fact he puts in such a shift for his national team is testament to what a professional he is.

Even from the striker position for Schalke, he still attempts 2.8 tackles per game on average according to WhoScored, showing the strong defensive contribution he makes.

The importance of Eric Choupo-Moting to this team cannot be underestimated, and if he can combine his superb domestic form and all-round team ethic, he will undoubtedly be a key player for Cameroon at the African Cup of Nations. They will need him to be on top of his game, if any success is to come their way.