The 10 greatest underdog teams in football history

#6 Cameroon, World Cup 1990

Roger Milla and Cameroon became cult favourite underdogs at the 1990 World Cup

African sides have historically always been underdogs when it comes to the World Cup, and 1990’s tournament had perhaps the best side of African underdogs in the tournament’s history in the form of Cameroon.

Coming into the tournament, nobody had heard of Cameroon’s players despite some playing in the French Ligue One – and the side included a 38-year old forward named Roger Milla who’d come out of retirement at the behest of the country’s president.

Nobody gave them a hope in hell against reigning champions Argentina – led by Diego Maradona – in the first game of the tournament, but somehow the Africans pulled off the ultimate upset, beating the South Americans 1-0.

Next up were the dangerous Romania, who featured Gheorghe Hagi in midfield, but two goals from Milla put them to the sword. And despite losing their final group game to the Soviet Union, another two goals from Milla sent them past Colombia in the round of 16.

The Cameroon dream was finally ended by England in the quarter-finals, but not before the African underdogs took the lead and gave Bobby Robson’s side the fright of their lives. Despite the underdog story ending somewhat early, the shocks they caused – and Roger Milla’s unforgettable dancing celebration – would go down in World Cup history and are still fondly remembered almost two decades on.