When Cameroon coach Volker Finke announced his initial 28-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ finals in mid-May, Cedric Djeugoue was shopping.

The news that he was included in the list took the Coton Sport defender by surprise. “A friend called me and I was very shocked.

I had thought about it, of course. That pushed me to work harder.” Like the other local-based player in the squad, goalkeeper Loic Feudjou, Djeugoue benefited from Coton Sports' impressive form in continental competitions.

The defender scored a late equalizer against Angolan club Petro Atletico to take his side into the group phase of the CAF Confederations Cup.

After being included in the initial squad, he admitted that he knew it would be difficult to make the final 23. “All players will fight for their place.

I just wanted to give my best so that I stood a chance.” He was given his first chance against Macedonia as a second-half substitute and then started in the Indomitable Lions' 2-2 draw against Germany in the last friendly the team played before Finke announced the squad.

The 21-year-old obviously impressed Finke to such an extent that he earned his place on the plane to Brazil.