Yaoundé, Cameroon (Face2Face Africa) On Monday, the head coach of Cameroon’s national football team, German-born Volker Finke, published a provisional list comprising of 30 players ahead of preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil in June.
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The short list that is made up of 28 professionals and 3 home-based footballers was released during a press lunch that took place in Yaoundé. It includes 4 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 8 midfielders, and 8 strikers.
They include:
Goalkeepers:
- Charles Itanje
- Ndy Roland
- Assembe
- Sammy Njock
- Lioc Feudjou (amateur)
Defenders:
- Nicolas Nkoulou
- Aurelien Chedjou
- Benoit Assou Ekotto
- Dany Noukeu
- Allan Nyom
- Henry Bedimo Esame
- Geatang Bong
- Jean Armel Kana Biyick
Midfielders:
- Joel Matip
- Stephen Mbia Etoundi
- Alexandre Song
- Eyong Enoh Tarkang
- Landry Ngeumo
- Sally Edgar
- Jean II Mankoun
- Cedric Djeugoue (amateur)
- Raoul Loe
Strikers:
- Samuel Fils Eto’o (pictured top)
- Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting
- Benjamin Moukandjo Bile
- Achil Webo
- Vincent Aboubakar
- Fabrice Olinga
- Idrissou Mohammadou
*Zock Bep (amateur) and Frank Bagnack are on stand-by.
The Indomitable Lions are expected to start camping on May 20th and will play 4 warm-up games against Macedonia and Paraguay in Austria, Germany in Germany, and then a farewell game against Guatemala in the Yaoundé Amadou Ahidjo Stadium before departure for Brazil.
At the end of these friendlies, Finke will make public his final list of 22 players for the Brazil World Cup.
Of late, the Indomitable Lions have registered a string of poor performances. They were beaten 5-1 by Portugal in a friendly game on March 5th in Portugal. In the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, the Indomitable Lions were eliminated in the first stage of the completion with zero points. Still, they failed to qualify for two successive editions of Africa’s biggest football rendez-vouz: the African Cup of Nations in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Even with these sub-par performances by the Indomitable Lions, Cameroonians are still very confident that they will repeat their 1990 exploit, when in Italy, they reached the quarter finals of the competition.
Here are some Cameroonians’ reactions:
“If Cameroonians win, I will love it because I really love seeing them winning when we are playing the world cup.’’ — Berinyuy Godlove
“We are in a group of tough teams and we have good players who, if are well-organized, they can perform well in the upcoming world cup.’’ — Fokom Serge
“Of late, the Lions have not been performing well, but I strongly believe that with hard work, they will spring a surprise at the Brazil world cup competition.’’ — Njila Paul
The Indomitable Lions will be in their 7th participation at the final round of the Fifa-organized world football tournament.
This year, Fifa has increased the financial benefits that go to all the 32 teams taking part in the competition, which is $570 million up from $420 million in 2010. Fifa is also providing $100 million for players’ insurance and taking care of lodging and transportation of footballers and officials.
The Lions play in group A alongside host Brazil, Croatia, and Mexico.
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