About
Nickname(s): Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions)
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
Head Coach: Volker Finke
Captain: Samuel Eto’o
FIFA Ranking: 50
Best World Cup Finish: Quarter-Finals (1990)
Notable Players: Alex Song (FC Barcelona) Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea) Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Queens Park Rangers on loan from Tottenham Hotspurs)
Odds on lifting the cup: 500/1
The Country
French and English are the official langues of Cameroon but the country is also home to over 200 other linguistic groups. Average life expectancy in Cameroon is just 53.69 years. The capital is Yaoundé with a population of approximately 2.5 million sits in the middle of the nation at an elevation of 750 metres above sea level. Polygamy is practised in the Cameroon resulting in large and extended families. Cameroon declared independence from France and Great Britain in 1960 and the current flag of Cameroon was adopted in 1975. The flag is based on the French tri-colour with Pan-African colours of green, red and gold. The centre red stripe and gold star are thought to stand for unity, the yellow representing the sun and savannas in the north and the green representing the forests in the south of the country.
World Cup History
Brazil 2014 will be Cameroon’s seventh appearance at the FIFA World Cup. The Indomitable Lions were undefeated in Spain 82′ drawing with Peru, Poland and Italy who eventually went on to win the tournament. Italia 90′ proved to be Cameroon’s breakthrough tournament making it out of the group stages for the first and only time in their World Cup history with the help of goals from Roger Miller. They eventually lost to England in the Quarter-Finals in extra-time 3-2. Cameroon boast the record of having the oldest goal scorer ever in a World Cup Finals, Roger Miller was 42-years-old when score in USA 94′.
The Manager
66-year-old Volker Finke took charge of Cameroon in 2013 and helped guide them to the finals in Brazil. Born in Neinberg, Germany Finke spent his playing career in Germany playing for TSV Havelse and Hannoverscher SC. Finke has managed teams in both Germany and Japan most notably Freiburg where he spent 16 years as head coach. Finke has a win rate of 40% with Cameroon, winning four, drawing four and losing two.
Qualification
Libya, Congo DR and Togo were Cameroon’s opponents in qualifying. Togo used an ineligible player in a game which they beat Cameroon 1-0, the result was over-turned and the three points were awarded back to Cameroon. Cameroon kept pace with the Libyans at the top of the table and defeated them 1-0 in the final game of qualifying to set up a play-off game with Tunisia. Cameroon returned home with a respectable 0-0 draw and secured qualification to Brazil with a resounding 4-1 win at home.
Key Player(s)
Samuel Eto’o proved he can still play at the top level after a not so spectacular but solid début season in the Premier League under José Mourinho. Nine goals in 21 games in the Premier League, Eto’o showed he can still mix it with the best. Cameroon will be hoping that he can take every chance that comes his way as the African nation were pitted in a tough group with Brazil, Croatia and Mexico. Alex Song endured an 18 month self-imposed exile from the Cameroon team in 2010 after falling out with team mate Samuel Eto’o. Song and Eto’o have since mended their relationship and Song although having only featured 19 times in La Liga for Barcelona will look to be Cameroon’s anchor in midfield and help keep them steady in defence and a threat in attack.
- Brazil
- Cameroon
- Croatia
- Mexico
Migeycan 