After missing the 2018 edition, five-time African Cup of Nations winners, Cameroon will grace the World Cup in Qatar that gets underway in under a week.The team qualified for the tournament in a rather lucky fashion. Firstly, the Rigobert Song led team lost the playoff first leg tie at home to Algeria before picking a 2-1 win away from home. Karl Toko Ekambi’s winner came deep into extra time stoppage time.##NAJAVA_MECA_6813643##The team, that has pitched camp Abu Dhabi in UAE, has been pooled in group G alongside record champions Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia and on paper, the Central African are the underdogs in the group.Their first game will be against Switzerland on 24th November. This is the first time that the two teams will be meeting at the international stage. Both teams’ best finish at the tournament is a quarter final reach. Cameroon achieved it in 1990 while the Swiss had their best place finish in 1954, in the last two editions, they reached the round of 16 stage.After the Swiss, the next match for the Indomitable Lions will be against Serbia on 28th November. The two teams have met once before in a friendly match. The thriller, played in June 2010 ended in a 4-3 win for Serbia. Current Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar featured in the game while Bayern striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who is also heading to Qatar scored one of the goals for the African giants.Cameroon fans have become famous for full-body paint jobs in support of the ‘Indomitable Lions’ ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/NvDSRQMdII— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 14, 2022 The final group match for Cameroon on the 2nd of December against record champions and favorites for the title, Brazil. The two teams have met five times before, twice in the World Cup, twice in the Confederation Cup once in the friendly. Brazil have picked one win while Cameroon one; they won the 2003 Confederations Cup by a solitary goal scored by current FA President Samuel Eto’o.Before the tournament, the Lions have a friendly match on Friday against Panama as coach Song seeks to fine tune team in readiness for the grueling battle ahead.Star playersToko Ekambi who starred in the AFCON and scored the all-important goal against Algeria is going to key. Bayern’s Choupo-Moting who has been in great form for his club and captain Vincent Aboubakar will be crucial for the national team up front. Inter Milan keeper Andre Onana, Collins Fai, and Nicholas Nkoulou will be key players. In the middle of the park, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa who has been in great form for Napoli, and Olivier Ntcham of Swansea will be among the important players.Odhiambo harnessing vast experience from Mathare to get Murang’a Seal promotedCameroon World Cup squad GK: Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille)GK: Devis Epassy (Abha)GK: Andre Onana (Inter Milan)DF: Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris)DF: Enzo Ebosse (Udinese)DF: Oumar Gonzalez (Ajaccio)DF: Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders)DF: Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union)DF: Collins Fai (Al-Tai)DF: Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes)DF: Christopher Wooh (Rennes)MF: Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)MF: Jerome Ngom Mbekeli (APEJES de Mfou)MF: Gael Ondoua (Hannover)MF: Samuel Gouet (Mechelen)MF: Pierre Kunde (Olympiacos)MF: Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona)MF: Olivier Ntcham (Swansea)FW: Vincent Aboubakar (Al-Nassr)FW: Souaibou Marou (Coton Sport)FW: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich)FW: Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua)FW: Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow)FW: Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas)FW: Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)FW: Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys)FW: Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon)FW: Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow)
