Veterans accept coach interim Belinga's call
Some Cameroon soccer stars who snubbed previous call ups have returned to the Indomitable Lions' squad to prepare for a friendly against Kuwait.
The African champions' interim coach, Alexandre Belinga, said the March 25 clash in Kuwait City will also be part of the Indomitable Lions' preparation for the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.
Idriss Carlos Kameni, Eric Maxime Choupo-Moting, Jean Armel Kana Biyick, Andre Onana and Allan Nyom are among a 23-man Indomitable Lions squad called to camp.
Belinga made public the list during a press conference at the headquarters of the Cameroon Football Federation in Yaoundé on Monday.
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The return of the players who local sports analysts have described as “the prodigal sons”, was highly expected following a “reconciliation meeting” between the president of the normalisation committee of FECAFOOT in Paris last week with some of them, including the legendary Samuel Eto’o.
Cameroon soccer pundits say though the return was a good thing, the technical staff have to be tactful in managing the squad now, to avert disenchantment among those who persevered with the team to win the Afcon 2017 in Gabon.
Create tension
“If Kameni is coming to the national team to challenge for a regular starting berth, that could destabilise and create tension with the other two goalkeepers who are of high quality,” said Francis Ajumane, a sports analyst and Editor of This is Sports Magazine.
“Andre Onana is clearly Cameroon's best goalkeeper in terms of performance and statistics. Kameni, who is not even a starter at his club, Fenerbache would be of great importance if he can offer his experience to the young ones,” Ajumane said further.
He noted that Nyom's return was important because he is versatile and can play right back as well as left back- a position he says Cameroon has struggled to fill for over five years now.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Ondoa Fabrice, (Sevilla-Spain), Onana Andre,(Ajax-Holland ), Kameni Carlos, (Fenerbahçe-Turkey)
Defenders: Fai Colins, (Standard de Liège- Belgium), Eboa Eboa Félix, (FC Guingamp-France) Ngah Fabrice, (Jadidi DifaHassani-Morocco), Ngadeu Ngadjui, (Slavia Prague Czech) Teikeu Adolphe, (FC Sochaux-France), Yaya Banana, (Panionios-Greece), Kana Biyick Jean Armel, (Kayserispor-Turkey)
Midfielders: Zambo Anguissa, (Olympique Marseille France) Siani Sebastien, (FC Anwerp-Belgium) Nyom Allan, (West Bromwich Albion FC England), Mandjeck Georges, (FC Metz-France), Bassogog Christian, (Henan-China), Njie Clinton, (Olympique Marseille-France) Moukandjo Benjamin,( FC Jiangsu Suning-China)
Strikers: Olinga Fabrice (FC Moucron-Belgique) Aboubakar Vincent, (FC Porto-Portugal) Bahoken Stéphane, (R. Strasbourg-France) Choupo Moting Eric-Maxim, (Stoke city England) Toko Ekambi (FC Angers-France) Tawamba Leandre, (Partizan Belgrade Serbia)