We are just counting two more months or so before the FIFA World Cup returns into action, after many undying anticipations by soccer lovers. This competition, which only occurs every four years, was last played in Russia in 2018, however, it will miss the upcoming World Cup in Qatar due to FIFA sanctions, following Russia’s political affairs in Ukraine.
With Qatar hosting their first ever World Cup, African giant Cameroon, will return to the competition after missing out in Russia four years ago and will be involved in one of the most talked-about games against Brazil in Group G.
Cameroon for the record is the only African country with more appearances at the World Cup, and they will face Brazil, the only team that has never missed out in any World Cup since they started participating.
Yes! Brazil is the ONLY country with more World Cup participations than any other country in the world. This could partly explain why the Seleçao Canarinha (Brazils national soccer team) has won more titles in the competition than other team.
Cameroon’s national soccer team, The Indomitable Lions will be leading other African teams to the World Cup. Ghana and Senegal together with Cameroon, that hold the record for the only three African countries to have reached the quarter-finals stages of the World Cup, will be joined by Tunisia and Morocco this year, making it five African countries in total. However, all eyes will be on the clash between Cameroon and Brazil.
Brazil which has a near-perfect squad, will have to brace up and not expect the same party they had when they faced a crumbling Cameroonian team in 2014. With some experienced players like Vincent Aboubakar and Choupo Moting, the only a few Cameroonian players left from that squad that suffered a humiliating defeat in 2014, the rest of the squad is now made up of players with no experience in playing in a World Cup competition and will definitely look to impress in their first outings in this World Cup.
It is fair to highlight that most of the Cameroonian players with no experience playing at a World Cup competition, play for top European clubs and/or have played against most of the Brazilian soccer stars who are part of Seleçao Canarinha team, which will make the clash more interesting, if not balanced at to say the least.
Just like Samuel Eto’o said a few months ago, Cameroon has done it before and can still do it again which simply means Cameroon has won before and can win again against all odds. It wasn’t easy when they beat Brazil in 2003 in the Confederation Cup in Paris after Cameroons fourth African Cup of Nations (AFCON) win in 2002, edging Senegal through penalty shootouts.
In a Group B game that looked tight and would seemingly end goalless after 90 minutes of play, a cruising Brazilian squad with players like Luis Adriano and Ronaldinho leading the attack line and a solid defense line led by the likes of Lúcio, Beletti, and Dida in goal, Brazil would receive their highest shock in the tournament when an 80th minute Samuel Eto’o volley from outside the box almost ripped off the riggings of Dida’s net to send them flying into the knockout stages.
Cameroon went on to play in the Confederations Cup finals this year, despite the tragedy that befell the entire squad; the demise of Marc Vivienne Foe who succumbed to death on the pitch in the semis of this Competition. Cameroonian soccer has never been the same since that time. In fact, Cameroon has only won one title since that period and it came in the 2017 AFCON, in Gabon.
Brazil who are without silverware since winning the Olympic games are obviously hungrier for more and will go in full swing, but again, everyone has got a chance this time around to write their wrongs.
It can be argued that if not for the tragedy in 2003, Cameroon could have equally beaten France in the finals as they edged some really very good teams in this competition that year, but it wasn’t meant to be.They lost narrowly to France in the finals during extra time.
Though that was the Confederations Cup, Cameroon is still to beat Brazil in the World Cup. Having caused an upset in Italy in the 1990 World Cup, lashing Argentina led by Diego Maradona by 1:0, every team will be weary of the Indomitable Lions and history can repeat itself undeniably.
In a nutshell, November is fast approaching and Cameroonian players must stay positive, watch more throwback videos and read more history books to stay mentally positive ahead of November!
Photo: Brazilian players Neymar, Maquinos and Cameroonian Choupo Moting
