AFC0N 2023 Diaries: Cameroon aiming for sixth title
Former captain of the Indomitable Lions, double African champion with the green, red and yellow nation, Rigobert Song is preparing to play his first Africa Cup of Nations as head coach.
Third in the last edition which took place at home, Cameroon is looking for its sixth continental title in Ivory Coast. As fate would have it, Cote d’Ivoire is the land where Cameroon won their one of their five TotalEnergies titles back in 1984.
Cameroon’s Group C matches
January 15
Cameroon – Guinea: 17h00 GMT, Charles-Konan-Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro
January 19
Senegal – Cameroon: 17h00 GMT, Stade Charles-Konan-Banny, Yamoussoukro
January 23
Gambia – Cameroon: 17h00 GMT, Stade de la Paix, Bouaké
How they qualified:
They were twenty-fourth and last nation to qualify for Cote d’Ivoire. Cameroon secured its ticket to Côte d’Ivoire by beating Burundi 3-0 on the last day to go top of Group C and secure a place at the finals.
Cameroon’s Squad
Goalkeepers: André Onana, Dévis Epassy, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Fabrice Ondoa
Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto, Harold Moukoudi, Oumar Gonzalez, Darlin Yongwa, Nouhou Tolo, Christopher Wooh, Enzo Tchato, Junior Tchamadeu, Malcolm Bokelé
Midfielders: Yvan Neyou, Olivier Kemen, Olivier Ntcham, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Wilfred Nathan Douala, Benjamin Elliot Njongue
Forwards: Toko-Ekambi, Nkoudou, Vincent Aboubakar, Faris Pemi Moumbgna, François-Régis Mughe, Frank Magri, Leonel Ateba, Clinton Njie
Player to watch: Vincent Aboubakar
Top scorer in the last Africa Cup of Nations with 8 goals, Vincent Aboubakar will once again be the offensive asset to watch for the Indomitable Lions in Ivory Coast.
Renowned for his qualities of being able to hold on the ball for his players and find the back of the net, Aboubakar is without a doubt one of the key marksmen of the Indomitable Lions.
His last seasons at Beşiktaş demonstrated that he was an excellent pivot in a system using lane attackers.
The coach: Rigobert Song
Rigobert Song is a man who advocates an ideology of “hemlè”, the Cameroonian fighting spirit. Regardless of Rigobert Song’s playing system, the wingers are crucial in his offensive system.
Players often go wide to stretch the opposing block while offering options to the creative midfielders. The important thing for the Cameroonian is always having numerical superiority in the space where the ball is located.
Cameroon AFCON record:
1970: 1st round
1972: Third
1982: 1st round
1984: Winner
1986: Finalist
1988: Winner
1990: 1st round
1992: Fourth
1996: 1st round
1998: Quarter-final
2000: Winner
2002: Winner
2004: Quarter-final
2006: Quarter-final
2008: Finalist
2010: Quarter-final
2015: 1st round
2017: Winner
2019: Round of 16
2021: Third
