Cameroon

Profile

FIFA Ranking: 37

AFCON Appearances: 20

Best Finish: Champions (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017)

Manager: Rigobert Song

Key Player

Vincent Aboubakar (Al-Nassr- Saudi Arabia)

Following his excellent 2021 Africa Cup of Nations the captain of the Indomitable Lions struggled with injury issues in their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff against Algeria but his team was able to get the job done in dramatic fashion. Outside of the AFCON it was not a particularly productive season for the 30-year-old but Cameroon supporters know he will always turn up when called for international duty. Is a clinical marksman who always seems to find a way to get his powerful shots on target and remains dangerous in the air when Cameroon’s full backs get forward to cross the ball in.

Other players to watch

Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon- France) Toko Ekambi was effective for club and country this season with eighteen goals in all competitions for Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais and eight goals in fifteen appearances for Cameroon across Qatar 2022 qualifying and the 2021 AFCON, including most importantly the dramatic winner against Algeria. Works well with the physically imposing Aboubakar with his long stride pace and intelligent runs into the space that is opened up by the captain.

Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona- Italy) Ranked at the top when it came to key passes and creating chances from midfield at the 2021 AFCON. The 24-year-old central player has come a long way since joining Spanish club Granada at the age of 18 from the academy of former Swiss national team striker Blaise Nkufo and joined Italian Serie A club Verona permanently for $4 million after impressing while on loan.

André Onana (AFC Ajax- Netherlands) It was a struggle at times for the goalkeeper at the 2021 AFCON due to having little match experience at club Ajax since returning from a lengthy ban. However, Onana got the run of games he needed in the buildup to the 2022 World Cup playoff against Algeria and looks close to full form.

Outlook

With Kenya’s suspension resulting in their ban from 2021 AFCON qualifying, Cameroon only needs to finish in the top-2 out of three teams and they should face little issue achieving qualification. The most important thing to watch is how the team looks under Rigobert Song for an extended spell ahead of their participation in Qatar 2022.