For Cameroon, this is their eighth world cup appearance, the most by an African nation. However, the road to Qatar was a bit messy and a long way for them. The African team had to go through a dramatic game against their continental rival, Algeria, a game that came after every qualifier meeting against all the competitors. Considering how they qualified for this world cup many have predicted them to have probably one of the shortest tenures in the competition and among the teams to finish at the bottom of their group table.
Cameroon’s best finish was in the quarterfinals in 1990; the team was the first African country to do so. And ever since the team has been trying to achieve another breakthrough. But in every world cup since their time in 1990, Cameroon has had players while full of promising quality, haven’t been able to make it through the first stage of the tournament.
Nevertheless, each year, the nation’s confirmed squad for the Qatar outing is interesting to watch out for. So many discussions have been spawned off of them this time too.
Official 26-Man Squad Of Cameroon For The FIFA World Cup 2022
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Simon Ngapandouetnbu | Marseille (FRA) | 19 | 0 |
| Goalkeeper | Devis Epassy | Abha (SAU) | 29 | 5 |
| Goalkeeper | Andre Onana | Inter Milan (ITA) | 26 | 31 |
| Defender | Nicolas Nkoulou | Aris (GRE) | 32 | 76 |
| Defender | Nouhou Tolo | Seattle Sounders (USA) | 25 | 16 |
| Defender | Oliver Mbaizo | Philadelphia Union (USA) | 25 | 11 |
| Defender | Collins Fai | Al-Tai (SAU) | 29 | 50 |
| Defender | Jean-Charles Castelletto | Nantes (FRA) | 27 | 12 |
| Defender | Enzo Ebosse | Udinese (ITA) | 23 | 1 |
| Defender | Christopher Wooh | Rennes (FRA) | 21 | 1 |
| Midfielder | Olivier Ntcham | Swansea City (WAL) | 26 | 1 |
| Midfielder | Pierre Kunde | Olympiakos (GRE) | 27 | 30 |
| Midfielder | Martin Hongla | Verona (ITA) | 24 | 17 |
| Midfielder | Samuel Gouet | Mechelen (BEL) | 24 | 21 |
| Midfielder | Gael Ondoa | Hannover 96 (GER) | 26 | 3 |
| Midfielder | Andre-Franck Zambo-Anguissa | Napoli (ITA) | 26 | 42 |
| Forward | Moumi Ngamaleu | Dynamo Moscow (RUS) | 28 | 21 |
| Forward | Jerome Ngom Mbekeli | Apejec FC (CAM) | 24 | 0 |
| Forward | Jean-Pierre Nsame | Young Boys (SWI) | 29 | 3 |
| Forward | Georges-Kevin Nkoudou | Besiktas (TUR) | 27 | 1 |
| Forward | Vincent Aboubakar | Al-Nassr (SAU) | 30 | 88 |
| Forward | Karl Toko Ekambi | Lyon (FRA) | 30 | 50 |
| Forward | Bryan Mbeumo | Brentford (ENG) | 23 | 1 |
| Forward | Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting | Bayern Munich (GER) | 33 | 68 |
| Forward | Christian Bassogog | SH Shenhua (CHI) | 27 | 42 |
| Forward | Marou Souaibou | Coton Sport FC (CAM) | 21 | 0 |
Cameroon Group; Who Are They Facing?
Cameroon in the group stages will be against the likes of Brazil, Switzerland, and Serbia. They will first go against the European side, Switzerland. Their next opponent will be the team with the midfield and attacking class, Serbia. Cameroon will have a group finale against the five-time world champion, Brazil.
Cameroon Group Fixtures
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Thurs, Nov. 24 | Switzerland vs. Cameroon | 5 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
| Mon, Nov. 28 | Cameroon vs. Serbia | 5 a.m. | Al Janoub Stadium |
| Fri, Dec. 2 | Cameroon vs. Brazil | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
Cameroon Strengths
During the qualifiers round, Cameroon introduced various approaches to attack. Looking at their recent gameplay, they have come across as the only African nation that the European and South American teams may find a bit unpredictable.
The support of Vincent Aboubakar in the frontline is crucial and this time he will have more support from wide areas.
There is also the unmissable presence of Zambo Anguissa currently enjoying his best season with Napoli in driving the team past the group stage of UCL. Even in the defensive end, Anguissa’s talents have been proven world-class with his ability to press and hold the ball under the pressure. He is clearly the man whom both sides of the viewers can see all across the pitch.
The other players from top European clubs are Andre Onana from Internazionale and Bayern Munich’s forward, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
The coordination of Cameroon’s attacking men among each other is good to look at and it perhaps is the team’s biggest characteristic.
Cameroon Weaknesses
They are fresh off the reality check defeats at the hands of Uzbekistan and South Korea.
Cameroon also made it to Qatar by the virtue of away goals after an aggregate score of 2-2 against Algeria.
Under their current manager, Song, the Indomitable Lions have so far lost four matches out of seven. There’s an additional concern that the nation didn’t score a single goal in five of its last nine matches.
The defense looks like one of the weakest among the current world cup participants. With only one quality defensive midfield in the name of Anguissa, it is more than likely going to be too much for him when Cameroon is against a team with a strong midfield and attacks.
Expectations On Cameroon
It’s anything but straightforward for Cameroon as to what they might face or do in Qatar.
Their nerves will have to be of steel during all three games of their group stage to have a decent chance of progressing to the round of 16. Even so, a single win in Qatar would be an extraordinary achievement let alone cruising through the group stage. On top of that, history is likely to repeat for Cameroon with Brazil this time; the two previously met in 2014 when the five-time world champion thrashed the African Lions by 4 goals to 1.
Stats have predicted more than 20% chance of making it past the group phase and 8% to make the last eight.
The majority of pundits have anyway pegged to finish the Indomitable Lions last in their group table.
