The Indomitable Lions are our preview focus here.
Top Man
He’s the most famous and decorated Cameroon footballer of all time and we couldn’t look anywhere else than at Samuel Eto’o. With 55 goals in 112 games for Cameroon, it’s a strike rate as good as any in international football.
Sure, as Mourinho will testify, he is getting on in years, but his predatory instincts remain and much of Cameroon’s fortunes will depend on how well the Chelsea striker plays. Playing in his third World Cup, he’ll be thinking this could be his last one and will want to go out with a bang.
Rising Star
Over the years we’ve been treated to the joy of Roger Milla and the fantastic career of Samuel Eto’o so who should we look for to make an impact from the Cameroon squad this year? The 22-year old Vincent Aboubakar, who plays his club football in France with L’Orient, is being dubbed as the new Eto’o.
Rich praise indeed for the young man already about to compete in his second World Cup. He scored 16 goals in 35 appearances for his club this season in Ligue 1 and could be the player to take away the spotlight from Eto’o.
Did you know?
When German national Volker Finke was appointed as their new manager, there was criticism from Cameroon fans mainly due to the shortcomings of previous foreign coaches. However, when Cameroon qualified for the World Cup, Finke was named Cameroon Sports Personality of the Year. Nothing as fickle as a Finke critic, eh?
Reasons for Irish fans to support them
Again, they wear green jerseys, but it’s the colour and entertainment they bring to the World Cup. Who can forget Roger Milla and his snake hips celebrating goals? Or there remarkable run to the quarter-finals in 1990 where they lost out in extra-time to England? Regardless of how they get on, they will try to play football the right way and usually with a smile on their face.
If they were a TV series
Born Free. Yes, another tenuous link to the fact that this show was set in Africa and was about lions. Cameroon are from Africa and are known as the Indomitable Lions. My work is done here.
Prediction
Although they’ve got some class players such as the aforementioned Eto’o alongside Stephane Mbia, Alex Song and Jean Makoun, I feel their best years are behind them. I cannot see them qualifying from the group such is the quality of the other teams, but Cameroon won’t mind being cast as underdogs. It’s a first round exit for the men from Africa.
Ladbrokes Betting Odds – 750/1
