The indomitable lions of African football, Cameroon, are all set to embark on their quest to secure the nation’s 5th AFCON title. Manager Hugo Broos has announced the 23-man-squad that will compete in the 31st edition of the prestigious competition. Cameroon are drawn along with hosts Gabon, Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau in group A and the Lions will take on Burkina Faso in their first match of the tournament on the 14th of this month.
Cameroon last won the AFCON in 2002 and their hopes of ending the 15-year long wait have been dealt a blow before the start of the tournament. The Lions are forced travel to Gabon without several key players, who have opted not to play in the competition, including Liverpool defender Joel Matip and Schalke striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Along with Matip and Choupo-Moting, Allan Nyom, Andre Onana, Guy Roland Ndy Assembe, Maxime Poundje, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Ibrahim Amadou have all chosen club over country. The Lions will also be without the services of national team captain and Hebei China Fortune FC midfielder, Stephane Mbia.
In spite of the player pull out, the nation would be optimistic of their chances and the fans will be counting on the current squad to end their long wait for the trophy. Here, we talk of five players who would be the key to Cameroon’s success in the tournament.
#5 Nicolas Nkoulou
The 26-year-old central defender, who has made 68 appearances for the national team, is one of the key figures in Hugo Bross’s plans for the tournament. With Joel Matip’s reluctance to play in the tournament and the exclusion of experienced defenders Henri Bedimo and Aurelien Chedjou from the squad, Nkoulou is the one who would have to shore things at the back for the Lions.
Nkoulou made his national team debut in 2008 in an international friendly against South Africa. The 26-year-old, who plays his club football for Lyon, captained the side during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and he is the most experienced player in Cameroon’s AFCON squad.
(Video Courtesy: WorldOfFootballHD YouTube Channel)
Nkoulou learned his trade at the Kadji Sports Academy, the same academy where the likes of Samuel Eto’o and Carlos Kameni started their careers. He then moved to France with Monaco at the age of 18 and spent three years at the club. In 2011, Marseille secured his services and after five seasons moved to Lyon.
The 26-year-old’s no-nonsense defending will be vital for Cameroon’s progress in the tournament.
#4 Georges Mandjeck
The Metz defensive midfielder has been handed the tough task to fill in the shoes of national side captain Stephane Mbia as the Hebei China Fortune player is unavailable for the tournament. The 28-year-old made his debut for Cameroon senior team in 2009 and he has 28 international caps and one goal to his name.
Mandjeck is an indispensable part of his club’s starting eleven and he helped Philippe Hinschberger’s side secure promotion from Ligue 2 last season. The 28-year-old started his career at the Kadji Sports Academy and has played for German sides Stuttgart and Kaiserslautern, French clubs Rennes and Auxerre, and Kayseri Erciyesspor in Turkey before moving to Metz in the 2015 summer transfer window.
While he is away for AFCON duty, the 28-year-old will be missed badly by Metz who are in the battle against relegation.
Manager Hugo Bross will be counting on the tough-tackling midfielder to shield the team’s defence and Mandjeck would have to provide the much-needed steel in the Cameroon midfield if they are to progress through the tournament.
#3 Clinton N'Jie
The Tottenham winger, having endured a troublesome first season with Spurs, is currently on loan at Marseille and he has had a good spell with the French club so far, having registered 3 goals and 1 assist in 13 appearances. N'Jie’s pace and dribbling skills will come in handy for Cameroon and he has a good goal scoring record for the Lions.
The 23-year-old scored on his international debut against the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2014 and he boasts a record of 6 goals in 15 appearances for the four-time AFCON winners.
(Video Courtesy: Matti Da Dribblare YouTube Channel)
N'Jie joined Lyon in 2011 as a part of the U-19 squad before forcing his way into the first team. He made 43 appearances for the Les Gones during his 3-year stay at the club scoring 8 times before moving to Spurs last season.
N'Jie has drawn comparisons with Cameroon’s all-time leading scorer Samuel Eto’o and the upcoming AFCON is the perfect stage for the youngster to make his mark.
#2 Benjamin Moukandjo
The 28-year-old striker is set to play in his second AFCON tournament as he was part of the squad that played in the last edition of the competition. Moukandjo made his Cameroon debut in June 2011 against Senegal and has gone on to make 36 appearances for the Lions finding the back of the net 6 times.
He was also part of Cameroon’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad and started all three of the group matches.
(Video Courtesy: JustFootballHD YouTube Channel)
Moukandjo currently plies his trade with Lorient where he has scored 7 goals in 15 appearances this season. He joined the Kadji Sports Academy when he was ten years old and then moved to France in 2007 with Stade Rennais. The 28-year-old has played for a number of French clubs during his career including Monaco, Nancy and Stade de Reims.
Being one of the most experienced players in Hugo Bross’s side, Moukandjo needs to perform consistently and chip in with goals for Cameroon to enjoy success at the tournament.
#1 Vincent Aboubakar
The FC Porto striker, who is currently on loan at Besiktas, is a typical no. 9 with great physicality, ruthless finishing and tremendous work rate. The 24-year-old has a huge responsibility on his shoulders as he is the man destined to spearhead Cameroon’s attack in the tournament.
(Video Courtesy: LG8 YouTube Channel)
Aboubakar made his national team debut in May 2010 in an international friendly against Slovakia and he has racked up 14 goals in 47 appearances for the Lions. The 24-year-old’s career got off to its start at local side Cotonsport Garoua and when he was 16 years old, French club Valenciennes FC secured his services. Three years later, he moved to Lorient and after enjoying a successful season at the club, he moved to Porto.
In the previous summer transfer window, Aboubakar joined Besiktas on a season-long deal and he has found the back of the net seven times for the Turkish side. Cameroon fans would be hoping that he will rise to the occasion in Gabon and help the Lions progress to the knockout phase at the very least.
