It’s just a matter of days now, before we start watching the first game of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Four years ago, The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon were only spectators as they didn’t succeed to book a ticket, but this time, they’ll want to be more than conquerors in this year’s competition when they return, however what lies ahead is huge.
While many anticipations are obvious, the pressure building up in Group G which features Cameroon, Switzerland, Serbia and Brazil is uncontrollable. Even though there are four teams in this group, two seem to be getting all the attention; Brazil vs Cameroon is the most anticipated game in this group given that both have a very rich and historic football background.
Cameroon’s dramatic last minute qualification in Blida, Algeria to knock Algeria out, gave them an opportunity to return to the the #WorldCup four years later. Her return to the competition has however been shaped by so many changes especially at the administrative level. Though the team is faced with so much pressure to get to the round of 16, factors like the look of other teams on paper are seemingly not frightening as they’re happy to be crowned the underdog in this group.
While group mate Brazil is the only country to have made more appearances in the World Cup ever since the competition started, Cameroon is Africa’s most frequent adventurer with eight appearances. It should be noted that while Cameroon will be searching for their first win in this competition since 2002, Brazil will also be targeting their first World Cup win since that same year. Cameroon last won a match in the world cup the same year Brazil went on to win the competition Korea-Japan (2002).
Going down memory lane, both teams had disappointing performances in 2014. Brazil went into that competition as favorites before being humbled out of the tournament on their tuff by Germany.
Elsewhere, Cameroon conceded nine (9) goals in just three matches (Mexico 1:0 Cameroon, Croatia 4:0 Cameroon, Brazil 4:1 Cameroon), scoring only once in the process, in the same year. Exiting competition at the bottom of the group for a consecutive appearance was obviously not a wish for the five-time African champions, as not emerging champions wasn’t one for Brazil either!
Both coaching staff have taken or are taking their time to pick their best 11s ahead of the Jamboree. Worth mentioning is that Cameroon is one of the only two teams still to submit a final list and you can imagine the kind of mathetics going on in the dressing room at the moment.
After assuming power as #Fecafoot president, Samuel Eto’o said he wasn’t going to Qatar to exit in the first round, the narrative hasn’t changed, as the goal is to play all seven matches in the competition. Should this come to pass, Cameroon will be the only African team to reach that stage. The first motivation will be to edge Brazil in the group stages, but how possible is that?
While history in football is not useless, it is good to remember Cameroon are still the only African country to ever beat Brazil in any major competition. The nostalgic feeling of Samuel Eto’o’s 2003 lone thunderbolt which was enough to seal a victory is a motivation for the new boys but they know what lies ahead on paper anywhere!
Shockingly, only Brazil in this group so far, has managed more silverware than Cameroon. Cameroon has actually ammased more silverware than any other team in this world cup group: Olympic medal (2000), AFCON (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017). Switzerland and Serbia are virgins; the least achievers on the list.
However, apart from Brazil, only Switzerland has made more world cup appearances (9) than Cameroonian. Serbia will be making her fourth this 2022 by the way. Cameroon will want to use her high frequency over Serbia as a measuring rod.
