Cameroon’s Chances at the Qatar World Cup 2022

The 2022 World Cup has been tagged an historic one just as the other two editions that were hosted outside of the Americas and Europe (Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010). This time, history will be written in the sands of the Middle East, Qatar precisely.

As the world will be witnessing history in the sands of Qatar, Africa will be witnessing history as the continent will be having its 49th representation at the World Cup and more history will be written as Cameroon will become the country with the highest appearances in the FIFA World Cup from the continent.

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The Indomitable Lions as they are called will be appearing in a record eighth World Cup. With names like Roger Miller and his iconic dance, the Central Africans have made a name for themselves at the mundial. They will with all of its pedigree carry Africa’s quest of breaking the quarterfinals jinx alongside the five other African countries in the tournament.

But can the newly assembled Indomitable Lions led by former captain and legend, Rigobert Song meet up with the country’s best result of a quarterfinals finish, we will get to know when the mudial begins later this month.

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are the African country with the most appearances at the FIFA World Cup. The Central African team has played in 8 different World Cups with Qatar 2022 being their 8th - 1982, 1990, 1994,1998, 2002, 2010, 2014, 2022.The team also holds the record of being the only African country to play in four straight World Cups between 1990 and 2002.

Cameroon do have good records in the tournament. And the best of the records will be that of Roger Miller being recorded as the oldest player to grace the tournament in the 1994 World Cup although the record was broken in 2014 by Colombian goalkeeper, Faryd Camilo Mondragón, Miller still remains the second oldest in the record books.

Miller still also remains the oldest goalscorer in the FIFA World Cup history books and that will bring inspiration to the young Lions going to the tournament.

On the pitch however, the records are not so convincing for the Indomitable Lions as they have only managed to win only four games at the World Cup. The Cameroonians have not won any game since Korea/Japan 2002 and have only managed to score three goals in the period.

This will be a huge task for the Song led side to overcome as they head into the tournament in Qatar.

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Certainly the first name that comes to mind as world Cup record holder for Cameroon will be Roger Miller. Miller remains the oldest player at the World Cup for Cameroon and also remains the country’s oldest goal scorer at the tournament.

Miller also remains Cameroon’s highest goal scorer at the FIFA World Cup with 5 goals. The Legend is closely followed by another legend and Cameroon’s most decorated footballer in Samuel Eto’o with three goals.

Patrick M’Bma and François Omam-Biyik the only players on two goals apiece while Joel Matip is recently scorer among the players with one goal each. This means the new squad will have to add their names to history books by scoring at the 2022 World Cup.

While Roger Miller topped the scorer’s chart, he is not the player with the most appearances for Cameroon at the mundial. François Omam-Biyik holds the record for the most appearances at the World Cup after having played 11 games in three World Cups - 1990, 1994 and 1998.

François is followed closely by Roger Miller with 10 appearances who also featured in three World Cups, 1982, 1990 and 1994. Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will be adding to their appearance tally at the 2022 World Cup.

However, Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto’o hold the record of the players to have the most World Cup for Cameroon. Song and Eto’o have both played in four different World Cup tournaments. Song played at the 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010 while Eto’o played at the 1998, 2002, 2010, and 2014.

The Cameroon squad will be filled with new faces going into the 2022 World Cup. A bunch of newly assembled players who brought glory back to Cameroon after winning the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting are the only players to have experienced on two occasions in the recent squad.

It is assumed that the country will parade the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations bronze medal winning team at the World Cup in Qatar. Bar any changes this is how the Cameroon squad will look like going to the World Cup:

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• 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: Darlin Yongwa (Lorient);
• 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: Georges Mandjeck (Nea Salamis);
• MF: Jean Onana (Lens);
• MF: Gael Ondoua (Hannover);
• MF: Samuel Gouet (Mechelen);
• MF: Pierre Kunde (Olympiacos);
• MF: Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona);
• MF: Olivier Ntcham (Swansea)

• FW: Leandre Tawamba (Al-Taawoun);
• FW: Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas);
• FW: Vincent Aboubakar (Al-Nassr);
• FW: Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford);
• FW: Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys);
• FW: Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon);
• FW: Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow);
• Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich)

Rigobert Song is the head coach of the Cameroon national team. The Cameroon football legend played as a Centre Back for the national team in his playing days and holds the record of the most capped player in Cameroon colours with 137 appearances.

Song holds a lot of records as a Cameroon player with one of them being the player to play the most Africa Cup of Nations - a total of 8 and he served as captain 5 times of the 8. He also featured as the player to play the most World Cup tournaments for cameroon; a record he shares with the Cameroon Football Federation president, Samuel Eto’o.

Song made 414 senior appearances at club level with a large chunk of the number coming from his 4 year stint with French Ligue 1 side Metz where he made 123 appearances. The defender also played for Premier League sides Liverpool and West Ham United before ending his career at Turkey with Galatasaray and Trabzonspor. He scored a total of 11 goals.

Song had been in coaching since 2016 where he was appointed head coach of Cameroon team A. He led them to the 2018 Africa Nations Championship but could make an impact and was later announced as caretaker coach of the national team. The former Lens player was also made head coach of the U-23 team in 2019 and in 2022, he was officially named the head coach of the national team.

The World Cup will be Song’s first real test as a coach although he was able to overcome the task of qualifying the team for the World Cup against North African giants, Algeria.

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Cameroon have a huge task at the World Cup if they are to progress to the Round of 16. Their group - Group G has favourites Brazil and resilient European countries - Serbia and Switzerland.

But with an experienced coach in Rigobert Song and a new crop of player who are hungry to make history for themselves, the Indomitable Lions will roar loud in Qatar 2022 but the chances of qualification to the round of 16 are a very slim one judging by their performance in their last two World Cup appearances.

The group stage schedule of the Indomitable Lions is one that does not allow a slip up in any of the outings. The Aricans face Switzerland first before taking on Serbia then they take on the Samba Boys of Brazil on the last day.

The schedule looks a very difficult one but their performance at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations should spur them on into giving a good fight.

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