Cameroon

Group B

How did they get here? Won the 2017 African Cup of Nations

Schedule: Chile (June 18, Moscow), Australia (June 22, Moscow), and Germany (June 25, Sochi)

Coach: Hugo Broos

Players to keep an eye on: Defender Collins Fai (Standard Liege), Midfielders Benjamin Moukandjo (Lorient) and Sebastien Siani (Oostende), and forward Vincent Aboubakar (Porto)

Outlook: The Indomitable Lions are back at the top of the pack in African football. After 15 long years Cameroon once again found themselves as the African Cup of Nations having downed Egypt 2-1.

The win also marked something of a change for the side. Having relied on the likes of legends like Samuel Eto’o, Rigobert Song, and Geremi Cameroon struggled to reach their previous highs and almost seemed plateau for a time. That time seems to have come and gone though with coach Hugo Broos bringing in a fresh perspective to the African giants.

Much like how Nigeria brought a younger roster to the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Broos seems have done the same thing with most of the sides key players taking the tournament. Nicolas Nkoulou, Joel Matip (whose issues with the Cameroonian FA have still not been resolved), Allan Nyom,or Eric Chupo-Moting for the Indomitable Lions in Russia at least for 2017.

Defending will be an issue for this side against the likes of Chile and Germany. Without Nkoulou and Matip Cameroon were already light on lockdown defenders. But their tournament aspirations were given a huge blow when Ambroise Oyongo (Montreal Impact) tore his ACL during a World Cup Qualification match earlier this month. Oyongo thrived in the left-back during AFCON and has used speed to become a force on the counter-attack.

The good news for Cameroon though is Vincent Aboubakar is perhaps one of the hottest strikers in football. Aboubakar scored 12 goals for Besiktas while on loan from Porto last season, helping his side to their 15th Super Lig Title. He is not expected to be at Porto for much longer so this tournament will be the perfect opportunity for him to show what his true value is.  

Cameroon are very much the dark horse of this year’s tournament. If Broos’ side can come together they may be able to get past a tired Chile and untested German side. But the injury to Oyongo and issues along the back-line make this team very susceptible to two good attacking sides and another in Australia that has proven its mettle during some difficult Asian World Cup Qualification.

[/column]