Out of pot 2 Cameroon were drawn with familiar foes Tunisia. These two sides of course last met in the quarterfinals of the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana. It was a thrilling match in which Cameroon went up 2-0 and then under the tutelage of the disastrous Otto Pfister decided to camp out in the back and defend wave after wave of Tunisian assaults. Eventually Tunisia would claw back both goals and the match went to extra time. Cameroon got a third goal and held out to win one of the matches of the tournament. For Cameroon the match was marked by the emergence of Stephané Mbia who scored two goals including the winner. Going back to the present Tunisia had their hearts broken as they fell out the final hurdle of World Cup qualifying, so their motivation levels will be suspect. Will they go to Angola crestfallen or ready to be legitimate challengers for the crown. They will also be introducing a new coach as the federation has already fired Coelho who guided them along for most of the World Cup campaign, the federation has also promised numerous other changes. Tunisia, regardless are on paper the most difficult opponents in the group.

From pot 3 Cameroon drew another familiar foe from the 2008 Nations Cup, in Zambia. Through two games of the final round of World Cup qualifying the Zambians looked like the favorites to make the World Cup having drawn in Cairo against Egypt and winning at home against Rwanda. In their next match they faced Algeria at home and went down 2-0 and never recovered, not scoring another goal the rest of the qualifying. Their attack proved impotent the rest of the way as they managed only a 0-0 draw away to Rwanda. When these sides faced off in Ghana in 2008 it was a Cameroon demolition as they annihilated Zambia by 5-1. Based on the World Cup qualifiers, Zambia are one of the weakest teams in the field on current form and their placement in pot 3 was more due to previous results then recent ones. Zambia at their current level would not look like providing much of a challenge to the rest of the teams in the group. They will definitely need to regroup in the next couple of months if they are to pose a threat as they have in the past.

And out of pot 4 Cameroon drew an even more familiar opponent then Tunisia or Zambia in their main opponents in World Cup qualifying, Gabon. These two sides faced each other twice back in September and Cameroon of course emerged as the winner on both occassions. It was the two victories against Gabon that catapulted Cameroon from bottom of the group to top of the group. And from there they would not relent as they secured two more convincing wins to qualify for the World Cup. Gabon of course will have revenge on their minds in Angola but whether they can play at the level they played at for the majority of World Cup qualifying remains to be seen. Either way Cameroon will not be too worried about Gabon due to their recent history against the side. Gabon are opponents Cameroon can be comfortable playing against because they know their opponents well.

Here is Cameroon’s group stage match schedule:

13 January in Lubango vs. Gabon

17 January in Lubango vs. Zambia

21 January in Lubango vs. Tunisia

This schedule makes it entirely possible that Cameroon will have already qualified for the quarterfinals by the time of the Tunisia match which is the toughest on paper. If Cameroon do make it out of the group stage in the quarterfinals their opponent would be one of the following 4 teams from Group C: Benin, Egypt, Mozambique or Nigeria. A possible chance at avenging the finals loss in Ghana to Egypt could be looming in the quarterfinals or maybe a titanic clash between Africa’s two most successful World Cup sides against Nigeria. Or else a match against emerging Benin or resurgent Mozambique, the side responsible for disintegrating Tunisia’s World Cup dreams and helping launch Nigeria back onto the World Cup’s largest stage. Whatever happens the Nations Cup should be an exciting tournament in which we can look forward to great football and the always enjoyable crying of European clubs as they lose some of their key players.

The starting eleven for Cameroon in today’s match was what I predicted with the exception of Landry N’Guemo starting instead of Stéphane M’Bia. Here was the line-up:

Kameni
Assou-Ekotto-R. Song-Nkoulou-Geremi
Makoun-N’Guemo-A. Song-Emana
Eto-o-Webo

In otherwords the same starting eleven as the Togo match with Assou-Ekotto in place of Henri Bedimo.

The match started off with Cameroon setting a very physical tone and bullying their Moroccan counterparts. Opportunities were scarce for both teams and it looked like Cameroon might struggle to find a goal. Morocco were working hard but certainly looked short of quality.

The match completely changed in the 18th minute when Achille Webo on the outside of the box fired in a low shot that beat Moroccan keeper Lamyaghri and hit off the side of the far post and over the line to give Cameroon a 1-0 lead.

From that point on Cameroon were in the ascendancy and Morocco were simply trying to hang in the match. And hang in they would as Cameroon were misfiring when they created chances. The best chance came after Eto’o won a corner but Makoun skied his header well over goal. The match went to the half with Cameroon holding a narrow 1-0 advantage though Morocco had not yet forced Kameni into a single save. Meanwhile the action in Lome between Togo and Gabon was locked in a 0-0 draw.

The second half started in the same fashion as the second ended with Cameroon in complete control of the proceedings. And it would not be long before the lead was doubled. Geremi took a corner kick and Makoun flicked a header to the far post where Eto’o was left completely unmarked from just a couple yards out and he blasted the ball into the back of the net for a simple goal in the 52nd minute. He really had no choice but to score from that position.

Cameroon should have put the result beyond all doubt as in the 66th minute Emana had the ball played into him in the box but only managed to fire his shot straight into Lamyaghri and the danger was cleared for Morocco. Emana was almost immediately after substituted for Stéphane M’Bia to add further steel to the midfield.

Morocco really did not need to be stifled though as they were taking care of that themselves. The effort was their but the quality was not and the attack was impotent. They did create a decent chance shortly after Emana’s missed opportunity with a shot from outside the box saved by Kameni and the rebound fell to an offsides Moroccan player. Even had the initial shot gone in the linesman may have ruled it off due to the offside Moroccan player possibly being in Kameni’s line of sight.

Morocco’s final chance came off a free kick from Mohamed Chihani who forced Kameni into a decent save. The Moroccan attack would not conjure up any more chances and it was Cameroon who looked more likely to score. Atchoyi Somen and Enoh Eyong would replace Landry N’Guemo and goal hero Webo respectively in the 77th and 82nd minutes.

Morocco would eventually grab an unlikely goal, unfortunately it came courtesy of a fan running onto the pitch and putting the ball into Kameni’s net. Needless to say the referee had no choice but to disallow it. Disgruntled Moroccan fans, of which some 25,000 were given free entry, started to storm out of the stadium and made short to destroy some of the seats in the stadium in the process.

The final whistle mercifully ended the campaign for Morocco who will now miss out on the African Cup of Nations in Angola. Cameroon manager, Paul le Guen who oversaw the turnaround in Cameroon’s fortunes was doused with water following the full time whistle and Cameroon engaged in relatively tepid celebrations. It was a squad that expected the result they got and due to the relatively easy manner in which they got the result their jubilation was not the same as that of the Nigerians earlier in the day. In the other match Togo ended up as 1-0 winners in Gabon meaning that even if Cameroon had lost they still would have qualified for South Africa.

I am sure the fans back home in Cameroon are in joyous mood as their heros have avoided a repeat of the 2006 qualifying campaign and will be making an African record 6th World Cup appearance.

Here is the video of Webo’s World Cup qualifying goal:

And here is Eto’o’s clincher:

I will have a full match review later and hopefully I can find highlights of the goals.

The Indomitable Lions hold their fate in their own hands. They can qualify a number of ways but the only acceptable way is by defeating Morocco. Here are all the ways in which Cameroon and Gabon can qualify:

Cameroon will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup if:
-they defeat Morocco, OR
-Gabon lose to Togo, OR
-Gabon draw with Togo AND:
Cameroon draw with or lose by one goal to Morocco, OR
Cameroon lose by two goals but score two more goals than Gabon.

Gabon will qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup if:
-they defeat Togo AND Cameroon do not defeat Morocco, OR
-they draw with Togo AND:
Cameroon lose to Morocco by at least three goals, OR
Cameroon lose to Morocco by two goals and do not score two more goals than Gabon.

At the end of the day those permutations shouldn’t come into play. This is a match that Cameroon should win. They are playing a weakened opponent who have put in dire performance after dire performance to this date. Cameroon have a better squad of players going into this match and they have the superior motivation. Qualifying for the World Cup is as great a motivation as there is. While qualifying for the Nations Cup is very important for Morocco, it just isn’t the same. Plus a win for Morocco does not guarantee them a Nations Cup spot as if Togo also win then it is no dice for Morocco.

The strategy for Cameroon in this match should simply be to pounce early, often and all day. This is a match that they need to take to Morocco from the opening whistle and they cannot relent until the result is beyond all doubt. Four years ago in the same situation Cameroon were up 1-0 at home against Egypt and relented. Egypt got an equalizer and Cameroon came up short and missed out on the World Cup for the first time since 1986. They must not repeat that mistake this time around. If they can get an early goal then they need to go for the kill.

The key players for Cameroon are likely to be the same men who have steered their revival ever since the 0-0 draw at home against this same Morocco side: Samuel Eto’o, Achille Emana and Jean Makoun. It was Eto’o and Emana who scored the two goals in the win in Libreville against Gabon. It was Eto’o and Makoun scoring the two goals in the home win against Gabon. And it was Emana and Makoun along with Geremi scoring the goals in the home win against Togo. I expect these same three players to deliver tomorrow.

Only five of the players in Cameroon’s squad have been to a World Cup before. Rigobert Song, the most capped player in Cameroonian history among other honors has appeared in three World Cups. Samuel Eto’o has made two prior trips. Geremi was there in 2002 as was Carlos Idriss Kameni though he was a mere 18 years of age at the time and did not feature. Likewise Daniel Ngom Kome was there in 2002 as well playing in two of Cameroon’s three matches. The rest of the squad will be looking to make it to their first ever World Cup.

It is tough to predict the line up for tomorrow as Paul le Guen has only been in charge for three of the qualifiers though only 3 or 4 spots are really questionable. A 4-4-2 will be the formation possibly a diamond shaped 4-1-2-1-2.

We do know that Kameni will be in goal. I expect the center back pairing to be Rigobert Song and Nicolas Nkoulou. Song, who lives to play in the national team shirt, will be replacing the injured Sebastien Bassong. Bassong’s spot in the squad has been given to Georges Mandjeck of second division German club Kaiserslautern. At left back I think Benoit Assou-Ekotto will take back his spot from Henri Bedimo after missing the Togo match through suspension. At right back look for Geremi to get the nod. It will be a four man midfield with Emana and Makoun locks to start. The other two spots are up for grabs. I would guess Alexandre Song and Stéphane M’Bia will get those places though it would be no surprise to see either Landry N’Guemo or Eyong Enoh in the starting eleven. And look for the striking partnership of Eto’o and Achille Webo to continue. Those are the 11 I expect to take the field and try to exorcise the demons from October 2005.

Cameroon will play their normal physical style of game though under le Guen they do not rely on it as much as they did under the stewardship of the inept Otto Pfister. Under Pfister they relied almost exclusively on keeping the opponent at bay and hitting on the counter attack. Under le Guen they have been a more dynamic attacking side and the results reflect as much. They will seek to physically and athletically dominate the Moroccans tomorrow. It is the Cameroonian midfield which should dominate the proceedings with ball winners like M’bia, Makoun and A. Song allowing Emana to create chances for himself as well as Eto’o and Webo. Assou-Ekotto and Geremi from the full back positions should they be the starters will also add an attacking threat, particularly the experienced Geremi. Football matches are usually won in midfield and the Cameroon midfield should be the ones dictating the outcome of tomorrow’s match.

Prediction time: The Atlas Lions are ready to be put out of their misery, all that’s left is to finish the job. Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that Morocco might ruin it all for Cameroon. Of the possible results the only that would surprise me would be an outright win for Morocco. I just don’t see it happening. I can see Cameroon winning this match going away just as easily as a tense draw. At the end of the day I think Cameroon will come through the match as convincing 3-1 winners and thereby making their African record 6th World Cup appearance. I also think Togo will get a result against Gabon, but I don’t want it coming to that.

Goalkeepers:
Nadir Lamyaghri (Wydad AC)
Karim Fegrouche (Wydad AC)
Hakim Ait Bouleman (Moghreb de Fès)

Defenders:
Chakib Benzoukane (Levsi Sofia)
Simohemed Oulhaj (Raja AC)
Issam El Adoua (RC Lens/)
Abdeslam Ouaddou (AS Nancy)
Mehdi Benatia Moutaqui (Clermont Foot)
Khalid Sekkat (Wydad AC)
Zakaria Zerouali (Raja AC)

Midfielders:
Adil Hermach (RC Lens)
Karim Al Ahmadi (Feyenoord)
Issam Erraki (AS FAR)
Mohemed Chihani (Moghreb de Fès)
Ahmed Demiani (DH Jadida)
Mbarek Boussoufa (RSC Anderlecht)
Kamel Chafni (AJ Auxerre)
Adel Taarabt (Queen’s Park Rangers)
Nabil Dirar (FC Bruges)

Strikers:
Hicham Aboucherouane (Al Ittihad)
Abdeslam Benjelloun (Hibernian FC)
Moustapha Allaoui (En Avant Guingamp)
Omar Najdi (Raja AC)
Nabil Baha (FC Malaga)

Morocco are missing a number of their star players and regular squad members due to a variety of reasons. Probably the best known Moroccan footballer on the planet Maouane Chamakh is out of the match through suspension as is Amine Erbate. Former captain Youssef Hadji has been dropped for disciplinary reasons along with Hicham Mahdoufi and Jamel Allioui. And finally missing through injury are Youssef Safri, Marouene Zemmama, Jaouad Zairi and Mounir El Hamdaoui.

In otherwords there squad is gutted of a number of players that would normally be fielded. This is a long ways from a first choice Moroccan side but that may work to the advantage of the Atlas Lions as the players who have been fielded in the prior 5 matches have not performed up to par.

There are still a number of strong players in this Moroccan side including Nabil Baha, Hicham Aboucherouane, Adel Taarabt
and Abdeslam Ouaddou. But the midfield in particular does not look particularly strong which should allow Cameroon’s strong midfield to dictate the terms of the match. Look for Morocco to play a very defensive game and look to try and hit Cameroon on the counter as they know that Cameroon will be looking to attack in earnest. If Morocco do go up a goal you should fully expect them to pack up shop in their own half and try to play for the 1-0 result.

For Morocco this match does hold significance, not as much as does for Cameroon, as they must win and hope Togo do not defeat Gabon. Otherwise Morocco will shockingly miss out on the African Cup of the Nations for the first time since 1996. A great indignity that would be for a proud footballing nation.

Unfortunately for Morocco they are playing a squad in excellent form at the moment and it is unclear how much the morale of the Moroccan players has been damaged. One would think an early Cameroon goal could bring about the quick collapse of Moroccan spirits and turn what is likely to be a somewhat pissed of Moroccan fanbase further against the team.

I will have a true match preview later today.

October 8, 2005 is a day that a lot of Cameroonians would choose as the darkest day in their football history. It is the day the Indomitability of the Indomitable Lions was shattered. It was believed to be unthinkable at that time for Cameroon to fail to qualify for the World Cup, much less in a home match. Yet that is exactly what happened.

On the final match day of the 2006 World Cup Campaign Cameroon were hosting Egypt at home with a two point lead over nearest rivals Côte d’Ivoire who were playing away to Sudan. Similar to next saturday’s scenario where Cameroon have a one point lead over second placed Gabon. The one difference is both sides are away on saturday in Morocco and Togo respectively.

Another similarity is that in both campaigns Cameroon had to overcome a large point gap. After two games in the current campaign Cameroon had a mere 1 point and no goals while Gabon were on a maximum 6 points. At approximately the mid-way point of the 2006 campaign Côte d’Ivoire had a 4 point cushion over Cameroon.

Another parallel to the two campaigns is that Cameroon one both home and away against Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon. Their wins over Gabon this time around directly lifted them above the Gabonese. Against Côte d’Ivoire their second win took them to top of the table combined with a Côte d’Ivoire draw in Libya in the previous fixture.

So entering the final match day four years ago it was Cameroon who controlled their own destiny. A home win against an Egyptian side who had nothing to play for having long since been eliminated from World Cup contention and having been automatic 2006 African Cup of Nations qualifiers as hosts though they would have qualified regardless. Cameroon could have also qualified had Côte d’Ivoire dropped points in Khartoum just like they will qualify on saturday if Gabon drop points as long as they are not blown out by Morocco.

Yet four years ago it all went horribly wrong. At first things seemed to be going how everyone thought they would. Rudolpe Douala gave Cameroon a 1-0 lead at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé. One would have thought a rout was in store for the Egyptians who had only pride on the line. Kanga Akalé did give Côte d’Ivoire a 22nd minute lead in Sudan but no matter as Cameroon were up as well. That is where things stood at half with both rivals up 1-0.

It quickly became apparent that Cameroon would have to hold onto their lead to qualify for the World Cup as Aruna Dindane doubled Côte d’Ivoire’s lead in the 51st minute and put the result beyond all doubt in the 73rd with his second. So the outcome was now reduced to one option for Cameroon, win. Côte d’Ivoire would end up winning 3-1 against an overmatched Sudanese side that accumulated just 6 points in 10 qualifying matches.

Cameroon now had to beat Egypt to qualify for Germany. Cameroon could not find that second goal that they needed and in fact it was increasingly the Egyptians who took control of the match and created the majority of the chances. In the second half the Cameroon attack stuttered and came to a complete stop. They were playing for the 1-0 result and the tenacious Egyptians would eventually make them pay with a 79th minute Mohamed Shawky goal.

Now the Indomitable Lions were looking at a disaster scenario: sitting at home watching the World Cup while Côte d’Ivoire, a side they beat twice, would be showcasing their talents.

Cameroon immediately went back on the prowl after conceding the goal and dominated the game but could not create any clear cut chances. The game entered stoppage time and it seemed as if the tragedy was at an end. Cameroon would fail at home. They would miss the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

They had 5 minutes of stoppage time to salvage the tragedy. And in the 5th minute of stoppage time Salomon Olembe won a very soft penalty kick for Cameroon. All that was left was for Samuel Eto’o to dispatch the penalty into the back of the net and send Cameroon to Germany. Only Eto’o didn’t take it. Neither did Achille Webo or Salomon Olembe or Daniel Ngom Kome. The only man brave enough to take the penalty was left back Pierre Womé. I will let the video tell the rest of the story. Please do not watch it if you are Pierre Womé, you have suffered enough already.

And just like that the tragedy for Cameroon become even worse. The unthinkable became not just thinkable but reality. Cameroon’s record streak of 4 straight World Cup appearances was over. Pierre Womé’s family would be put under the protection of the police and Womé himself would receive death threats and eventually retire from the national team as a result.

Now a little over 4 years later we come full circle again. A chance to exorcise the ghosts of four years ago and right that wrong. All Cameroon has to do is win in Morocco. It is no time to just hope that Togo take care of Gabon. Beat a Moroccan side that is as bad as any Moroccan side in memory and that fateful day in Yaoundé on October 8, 2006 will become a little less painful.

Or history will repeat itself and that pain will only magnify and hang over the Indomitable Lions for an additional 4 years.

Saturday November 14, 2009 we will have our answer. Will it be redemption or Déjà Vu?

Goalkeepers:
Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol)
Souleymanou Hamidou (Kayserispor)

Defenders:
Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor)
Geremi (Newcastle United)
Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham)
Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham)
Henri Bedimo (Chateauroux)
Augustin Binya (Neuchatel Xamax)
Andre Bikey (Reading)
Nicolas Nkoulou (AS Monaco)

Midfielders:
Jean Il Makoun (Olympique Lyonnais)
Stephane Mbia (Olympique Marseille)
Daniel Ngom Kome (Tenerife)
Eyong Enoh (Ajax Amsterdam)
Landry Nguemo (Celtic)
Alexandre Song (Arsenal)

Forwards:
Achille Emana (Real Betis)
Somen Tchoyi (Salzburg)
Achille Webo (Real Mallorca)
Albert Meyong Ze (Braga)
Paul Alo’o Efoulou (AS Nancy Lorraine)
Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan)

Of these players Sebastien Bassong is almost certain to miss out after suffering a hamstring injury in Tottenham’s match against Arsenal this weekend.

The following all started Cameroon’s last match against Togo, a 3-0 win.
Kameni
Nkoulou
R. Song
Bedimo
A. Song
Nguemo
Geremi
Eto’o
Emana
Makoun
Webo

A similar starting lineup will probably take the pitch for the Morocco match. The young, inexperienced Henri Bedimo who was very impressive in his debut for Cameroon is the most likely to start on the bench in favor of possibly Benoit Assou Ekotto.

All in all a call up list with no real surprises. It is a very experienced squad of players that will hopefully be up to the task of defeating a Moroccan side that is one of the most disappointing in living memory, but a side that needs a result or else they will miss out on the African Cup of Nations in Angola, something that Moroccan fans would have believed a possibility when the campaign started.

I will be covering Cameroon for the site starting with their pivotal match of the qualifying campaign in Morocco on the 14th of November. A win sends Cameroon back to the World Cup. A draw or a loss makes them dependent on Gabon’s result away to Togo.

I have been a fan of Cameroon since the 1994 World Cup. Why? I couldn’t possibly tell you. I was only 9 at the time so it is probably because of their team nickname. Whatever the case I have continued to root for Cameroon ever since and hopefully I can cover their adventure in South Africa.

For the record I am also currently the blogger for Benin and Guinea but the Cameroon blog is likely to take priority, especially if they qualify for the World Cup. I will continue to blog for Benin and Guinea as well.

I plan for full coverage of Cameroon’s qualifying match against Morocco as we get closer to that all important match. So, look forward to more news related to the Indomitable Lions.

Tomorrow kicks off the African Cup O’ Nations for the Indomitable Lions when they’re given the unenviable task of opening play against the defending champions, Egypt. The Lions go into the game headstrong, buoyed by the presence of (recently) oft-injured Samuel Eto’o. If recent club form is any indication, the Lions are in optimal hands, as Papa Eto’o has scored 6 goals in his last 6 games, including 2 braces. In short: he’s en fuego. You could say that he’s peaking, but that’d be grossly misleading. He’s just that good.

Egypt heads into the tournament missing two of its better players in Hossam Ghaly, who is putting imminent relegation with Derby before country, and Mido, who is busy being a bitch somewhere else. (Roma fan here.) And honestly, I can’t decide whether this is good or bad. Neither are known for being “team” players, and to me, that’s what international tournaments are all about. So for my money, Egypt may be better off without them.

The Lions Lineup:

Superstud Idriss Kameni will patrol the pipes, and he’s easily one of the best keepers at the games. I’d be willing to bet a scout or two from The Artist Formerly Known As G14 will be in the stands.

The backline is headed emotionally by Rigobert Song, captain of well over 100 caps, and uncle to teammate and Arsenal phenom Alexandre Song. Steady hand Geremi will prolly take the RB spot. Thimothee Atouba finds himself at LB while Andre Bikey (who has been increasingly impressive from what I’ve seen at Reading) and Andre Binya will likely round out the back 4 (Bikey being the heavy favorite). Unfortunately, 2 of those names, Atouba and Binya, have recently been known for savage challenges (Binya’s was plain inexcusable) than anything else. For a position which doesn’t boast a ton of depth, that’s a worry in case they find themselves in trouble.

In midfield it’s all about the French-based players. Jean Makoun is going to do some work in front of the back, while Marseille fella Modeste M’bami will team up to direct the orchestra. Achille Emana will probably add another body to form a ‘take no prisoners’ midfield approach with Makoun, while Stephane Mbia, Alexandre Song, Joel Epalle, Alain Nkong and even Geremi can slot in somewhere. This one, without having seen Cameroon play in a couple years, is tough to say.

Up top it’s all about the man, the myth, the legend, Samuel Eto’o. It’s tough to say as he goes this team goes, because there’s a lot of talent around him, but he is capable of bringing any team in the world – club or international – to an entirely different level. He’ll score some goals during the tournament, that’s for sure.

Keys

To start off the tournament, it’s pretty much about getting into form quickly and setting the tone. There are two ways to do that, emotionally and physically. Two men do the former, while a pairing can do the latter.

Emotionally: Rigobert Song & Samuel Eto’o.

Song is the undisputed leader of the team, the captain, and a guy who can play a bit too, having been voted the best defender in Turkey last season. Andre Bikey sums it up:

“He constantly talks and advises. And the younger guys grew up watching him playing in the World Cup and lifting trophies on TV, so playing with him gives us unbelievable confidence.”

He will lead on and off the field; and during a tournament, that can never be emphasized enough.

Everyone knows what Eto’o is going to bring to the table: goals. And there is absolutely nothing, not even Song’s words, which can uplift a team like the scoreboard. Yes, he is a great talent with the ball, but he also has the power to make this team believe in destiny.

Physical: Jean Makoun and Achille Emana.

I’m always a fan of commanding the midfield, especially with physical bruisers who make getting into the backfield a task all in itself. While Cameroon is no Mali, with Mahamouda Diarra and Momo Sissoko, they still have two guys who can take command of the area and rough up a dude or two. Both bring more, much more, to the equation, but they can set the tone and that’s crucial.

Prediction.:. 1-0 Cameroon (Eto’o 57′)

I think Cameroon has a little to much on the physical side, and Eto’o is just a difference maker. And a stud. Just a big stud.

Check the front page where a Liveblog will be up and a lot of commentary.

ALLEZ LES LIONS

Defenders:
No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
DF Rigobert Song 1 July 1976 103 3 Flag of Turkey Galatasaray
DF Thimothée Atouba 17 February 1982 20 0 Flag of Germany Hamburger SV
DF Geremi 20 December 1978 60 6 Flag of England Newcastle United
DF Andre Bikey 8 January 1985 10 1 Flag of England Reading
DF Eric Matoukou 8 July 1983 Flag of Belgium K.R.C. Genk
DF Gilles Augustin Binya 29 August 1984 8 1 Flag of Portugal Benfica
DF Enam Alexis 25 October 1986 Flag of Tunisia Club Africain
DF Benoit Angbwa 1 January 1982 Flag of Russia Krylya Sovetov
DF Bill Tchato 14 May 1975 Flag of Qatar Qatar Sports Club

Midfielders:
No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
MF Modeste M’Bami 9 October 1982 22 7 Flag of France Olympique Marseille
MF Jean Makoun 29 May 1983 22 7 Flag of France Lille
MF Alain Junior Olle Olle 11 April 1987 0 0 Flag of Uruguay Nacional
MF Alexandre Song 9 September 1987 0 0 Flag of England Arsenal
MF Landry N’Guémo 28 November 1985 2 1 Flag of France AS Nancy
MF Stéphane Mbia 20 May 1986 2 1 Flag of France Stade Rennais
MF Joël Epalle 20 February 1978 20 2 Flag of Germany VfL Bochum
MF Achille Emana 5 June 1982 10 0 Flag of France Toulouse FC
MF Alain Nkong 6 April 1979 21 9 Flag of Mexico Atlante

Strikers:
No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
FW Samuel Eto’o 10 March 1981 60 24 Flag of Spain FC Barcelona
FW Bertin Tomou 8 August 1978 11 6 Flag of Belgium Excelsior Mouscron
FW Christian Bekamenga 9 May 1986 0 0 Flag of Indonesia Persib Bandung
FW Joseph-Désiré Job 1 December 1978 22 1 Flag of France OGC Nice
FW Mohammadou Idrissou 8 March 1980 1 0 Flag of Germany MSV Duisburg