Cameroon national football team

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Cameroon
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Lions Indomptables
(Indomitable Lions)
Association Fédération Camerounaise
de Football
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Head coach Flag of Germany Otto Pfister
Asst coach Jules Nyongha
Captain Rigobert Song
Most caps Rigobert Song (112)
Top scorer Patrick Mboma (33)
Home stadium Stade Omnisports
FIFA code CMR
FIFA ranking 17
Highest FIFA ranking 11 (November 2006)
Lowest FIFA ranking 62 (April 1997)
Elo ranking 33
Highest Elo ranking 12 (June 2003)
Lowest Elo ranking 76 (April 1995)
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
First kit
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
Second kit
First international
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon 9 - 2 Somalia Flag of Somalia
(Madagascar; 13 April 1960)
Biggest win
Flag of Cameroon Cameroon 9 - 2 Somalia Flag of Somalia
(Madagascar; 13 April 1960)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Norway Norway 6 - 1 Cameroon Flag of Cameroon
(Oslo, Norway; 31 October 1990)
Flag of Russia Russia 6 - 1 Cameroon Flag of Cameroon
(Palo Alto, California, USA; 28 June 1994)
Flag of Costa Rica Costa Rica 5 - 0 Cameroon Flag of Cameroon
(San Jose, Costa Rica; 9 March 1997)
World Cup
Appearances 5 (First in 1982)
Best result Quarterfinals, 1990
African Nations Cup
Appearances 15 (First in 1970)
Best result Winners, 1984, 1988,
2000, 2002
Confederations Cup
Appearances 2 (First in 2001)
Best result 2nd, 2003
Olympic medal record
Men’s Football
Gold 2000 Sydney Team

The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Lions Indomptables (Indomitable Lions), is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is one of Africa's most successful sides; Cameroon have qualified for the FIFA World Cup five times - in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 - more than any other African nation. They were the first African team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup, in 1990, losing to England in extra time. They have also won 4 African Nations Cups, as well as the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Contents

[edit] History

Cameroon qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 1982. With the increase of 16 to 24 teams Cameroon qualified along with Algeria to represent Africa in Spain. Cameroon was drawn into group 1 with Italy, Poland, and Peru. In their first game Cameroon faced Italy and held on to a surprising 1-1 draw. Cameroon held Peru and Poland to 0-0 draws but failed to qualify for the second round. Cameroon did their fans proud having not lost a game.

Cameroon narrowly failed to qualify for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Cameroon qualified for the 1990 World Cup surpassing Nigeria and beating Tunisia in the final round playoff. In the final tournament Cameroon were drawn into group B with Argentina, Romania, and the Soviet Union. Cameroon shocked the world by defeating holders Argentina 1-0. Cameroon later defeated Romania 2-1 and lost to the Soviet Union 4-0, becoming the first side to top a World Cup Finals group with a negative goal difference. In the second round Cameroon defeated Colombia 2-1 with Roger Milla scoring two goals in the extra time. In the quarter finals Cameroon faced England. At 25 minutes England's David Platt scored for England. In the second half however Cameroon came back with a 61st minute penalty from Kunde and took the lead with Ekeke at 65 minutes. England however equalized in the 83rd minute with a penalty from Lineker. Lineker made in 3-2 for England with a penalty in the 105th minute. Cameroon had nearly created one of the greatest upsets in the World Cup.

The 1994 World Cup in the USA saw the adjustment of representation for three African teams qualify. Cameroon qualified with Nigeria and Morocco. In the final tournament Cameroon were drawn into group B with Sweden, Brazil, and Russia. After convincing 2-2 draw with Sweden, Cameroon were determined to make an impact. However a 3-0 loss to Brazil and a 6-1 loss to Russia effectively ended their hopes of glory.

The 1998 World Cup in France saw the increase of 24 to 32 teams. Cameroon qualified alongside five African countries. After qualifying as expected, Cameroon were drawn into group B with Italy, Chile, and Austria. Cameroon struggled and drew their first two games with Chile and Austria. Cameroon were eliminated from the group when they lost to Italy 3-0.

Cameroon qualified for the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan clinching first place in their group which included Angola, Zambia, and Togo. Before the start of the World Cup, Cameroon ran into controversy sporting Puma sleeveless kits which they wore in the 2002 African Cup of Nations. FIFA immediately declared the kits illegal and black sleeves were added. Cameroon were drawn into group E with Germany, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia. Cameroon started with a 1-1 draw with Ireland after giving up the lead and later defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0. In their last game Cameroon were defeated 2-0 by Germany and were narrowly eliminated by the Irish who had not lost a game.

Lions Indomptables crest
Lions Indomptables crest

In the 2006 World Cup qualifying round Cameroon were drawn into group 3 with Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, and Benin. Cameroon led the group for most of time unitil their final game. On October 8, 2005 Cameroon drew with Egypt 1-1 while Côte d'Ivoire defeated Sudan 3-1. This result prevented Cameroon from making the World Cup.

[edit] Controversy about sleeveless and one-piece kits

Cameroon used sleeveles PUMA shirts at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. FIFA, however, didn't allow Cameroon to use the same kits at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and black sleeves were added to the shirts. The 2004 African Cup of Nations witnessed Cameroon again run into controversy regarding their kits. PUMA had designed a one piece kit for the Cameroon team which FIFA declared illegal stating that the kits must have separate shirts and shorts. FIFA then imposed fines on Cameroon and deducted six points from their qualifying campaign.. PUMA argued that a two piece kit is not stated as a requirement in the FIFA laws of the game. PUMA however lost the case in court and Cameroon were forced to wear two piece kits and FIFA restored the six qualifying points to Cameroon.

[edit] Cameroon Football Achievements

African Cup of Nations :
  • 4 Time Champion (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002)
All-Africa Games :
  • 4 Time Champion (1991, 1999, 2003, 2007)
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations :
  • 1 Time Champion (1985)
CEMAC Cup :
  • 2 Times Champion (2003, 2005)
  • 1 Time Runners-up
Central African Games :
  • 2 Times Champion (1976, 1987)
UDEAC Championship :
  • 4 Times Champion (1984, 1986, 1987, 1989)
  • 1 Time Runners-up
1995
2003

[edit] World Cup record

[edit] African Nations Cup record

[edit] Current squad

The following squad includes players called up for 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana

[edit] Goalkeepers

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
1 GK Idriss Carlos Kameni 18 February 1984 32 0 Flag of Spain RCD Espanyol
16 GK Souleymanou Hamidou 22 November 1973 40 0 Flag of Turkey Denizlispor
22 GK Janvier Charles Mbarga 27 September 1985 0 0 Flag of Cameroon Canon Yaoundé


[edit] Defenders

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
2 DF Gilles Augustin Binya 29 August 1984 8 1 Flag of Portugal Benfica
3 DF Bill Tchato 14 May 1975 48 Flag of Qatar Qatar Sports Club
4 DF Rigobert Song 1 July 1976 103 3 Flag of Turkey Galatasaray
5 DF Thimothée Atouba 17 February 1982 20 0 Flag of Germany Hamburger SV
6 DF Benoit Angbwa 1 January 1982 Flag of Russia FC Saturn Moscow Oblast
23 DF Andre Bikey 8 January 1985 10 1 Flag of England Reading


[edit] Midfielders

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
7 MF Modeste M'Bami 9 October 1982 22 7 Flag of France Olympique Marseille
8 MF Geremi Njitap 20 December 1978 60 7 Flag of England Newcastle United
10 MF Achille Emana 5 June 1982 10 0 Flag of France Toulouse FC
11 MF Jean Makoun 29 May 1983 22 7 Flag of France Lille
12 MF Alain Nkong 6 April 1979 21 10 Flag of Mexico Atlante
13 MF Landry N'Guémo 28 November 1985 2 1 Flag of France AS Nancy
14 MF Joël Epalle 20 February 1978 20 2 Flag of Germany VfL Bochum
15 MF Alexandre Song 9 September 1987 8 1 Flag of England Arsenal
19 MF Stéphane Mbia 20 May 1986 2 1 Flag of France Stade Rennais
20 MF Paul Essola 13 December 1981 1 0 Flag of Ukraine Arsenal Kyiv


[edit] Strikers

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
9 FW Samuel Eto'o 10 March 1981 68 28 Flag of Spain FC Barcelona
17 FW Mohammadou Idrissou 8 March 1980 20 7 Flag of Germany SC Freiburg
18 FW Bertin Tomou 8 August 1978 11 6 Flag of Belgium Excelsior Mouscron
21 FW Joseph-Désiré Job 1 December 1978 22 3 Flag of France OGC Nice


[edit] Recent Call Ups 2008

No. Pos. Player DoB/Age Caps Goals Club
FW Herve Tum 15 February 1979 10 2 Flag of Turkey Bursaspor
GK Pierre Ebede 9 February 1980 0 0 Flag of France FC Metz
DF Eric Matoukou 8 July 1983 0 0 Flag of Belgium K.R.C. Genk
DF Enam Alexis 25 October 1986 0 0 Flag of Tunisia Club Africain
MF Alain Junior Olle Olle 11 April 1987 0 0 Flag of Germany SC Freiburg
FW Christian Bekamenga 9 May 1986 0 0 Flag of Indonesia Persib Bandung


[edit] Famous players

   

 * Won both 2000 African Nations Cup and Summer Olympics

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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