Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions are off to the World Cup in Qatar with a 26-man squad. The president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) Samuel Eto’o had said in the dressing room when he talked to the team, no one’s place was really assured.
While there are a lot of positives to take from the final list, there is also so much to worry about and that’s all that there’s to do right now; grumble and stay.
A LESSON TO LEARN HERE
If there’s one thing we have to streamline as we grow, it is expectations that can give you high blood pressure before your time.
Take the case of Ngadeu Ngadjui, who has been an integral part of the Indomitable Lions team since 2017. If there was one person who was to pack his bags before the departure date to Qatar was announced, it’s none other but Ngadeu.
“We are going to Qatar to die on the pitch” was his word of assurance to Cameroonian soccer fans who have doubted him over the past few months. But can we all agree that he gave his best even though he wasn’t the best? I think he deserved even a few minutes in Qatar even if he wasn’t going to be a starter. What a mentally damaging experience for him after seeing his name not featured on the list of the players who will be playing in Qatar.
Another figure from the 2017 team that gave Cameroon her fifth AFCON but who hasn’t made the squad since he fell from grace has been Ondoa! You can’t but feel for him. He knew he wouldn’t be first choice before his brother Onana. However, he definitely deserved a second place and a World Cup call up. It will be frustrating especially after all the work he’s put in to prove his readiness. He is also an entertainer, and some of that would be needed to hype things up in Qatar.
ANY POSITIVES TO TAKE FROM THE FINAL LIST?
The answer is yes! There are so many positives as well as many self motivated World Cup debutantes who also know that this will be their last World Cup, given their ages due to the fact that the next world cup only returns in four years.
Seeing members of the 2017 #IndomitableLions team that won in Libreville, Gabon like Nkoulou, Bassogog all come back into the team breaths some fresh hope. It’s obvious that we’ll try to downplay them by using the age factor but enough experience is needed and given that most of them have experience playing on a big stage and having a winning mentality, this will do the team in Group G so much good!
No one saw Bassogog coming back into the team but the 2017 player of the tournament is an option to Brian Mbuemo with his left foot of which we only have Brian. It’s obvious Brian will be the starter in Qatar.
The options in midfield are not the best but they can help the team to advance to round 16, with Frank Zambo Anguisa leading the chase therein alongside Onla and Oumguet!
The attacking options are well enough: Choupo Moting, Vincent Aboubakar know that a mount to climb in big shoes to fill awaits them. Can they do the job?
With the present squad, Cameroon can harm anyone in Qatar. As a matter of fact, Cameroon will make it out of the group stages.
