Cameroon is the most appeared African nation to represent in the FIFA Men’s senior World Cup. It lies in West Central Africa and represents in the soccer World Cup by the CAF (Confederation of African Football). Previously, Cameroon was a part of the British/French and German Colonial Empire from the mid-eighteenth century to 1961.
Cameroon is one of the nations out of 32 qualified teams for the twenty-second edition of the FIFA World Cup. Cameroon national men’s team (The Indomitable Lions) has qualified for the World Cup eight times as of 2022. Let’s briefly discuss Cameroon’s football history, current preparation, and Qatar World Cup 2022 squad.
Brief History of Cameroon Football
Pre- Independence Era
Cameroon’s football started early in the nineteenth century. Like other African countries, Cameroon was also a part of the European Colonial Empire. Initially, Germany captured Cameroon and its sovereignty in the 1850s. After defeating Germany in the first World War. The French and British governments split Cameroon into two parts; French Cameroon and British Cameroon.
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English and French footballers introduced football to both Cameroon parts. In 190, French teacher Charles Lalanne and Sierra Leonean George Goethe organized a tournament. Cameroon’s players first played their domestic games in French Cameroon. However, Cameroon did not play international matches until their independence from French and British Colonial rule.
Post-Independence
Late in 1959, Cameroon formed the national team one year before their independence and union of split nations. In 1960, French Cameroon became independent, and British Cameroon gained independence the following year. Then, they merged the country, The Republic of Cameroon.
Football cultures had already developed, and they finally joined FIFA in 1962 and CAF in 1963, respectively. Cameroon joined the confederation but could not participate in the major tournaments until the 1970 African Nations Cup. Cameroon qualified for the first time in the tournament but could not surpass the group stage.
After two years, Cameroon hosted the competition and ended with the third position. Then, it failed to qualify for the next ten years at the AFN championship. However, it earned a spot in the 1982 FIFA World Cup football and exited the group stage.
Finally, Cameroon became a champion of Africa, beating Nigeria in the final of the African Nations Cup (1984). Later, it won the titles four times and the last time in 2017. Likewise, Cameroon ended the competition with the third position in 2021.
Cameroon at the FIFA World Cup
The CAF’s most successful teams at World Cup football previously made seven appearances in World Cup football. In 1982, it qualified for the first time with Algeria in Spain World Cup. Cameroon was in a group of then-winner Italy, Poland, and Peru.
It ended the tournament with three draws and could not progress to the knockout round. Moreover, Cameroon returned to World Cup after eight years as it did not qualify for the Argentina World Cup (1986). In 1990, Cameroon made a selection for the Italy World Cup. It showed an alluring performance during group matches and a round of 16.
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It was able to progress to the tournament’s quarterfinals, the second African nation to reach so far in the World Cup after Senegal. However, it lost the quarterfinal against England and ended the competition. Cameroon appeared in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, and 2014 respectively. And It also passed the qualification round of Qatar World Cup 2022.
Notable Players from Cameroon
Several players from Cameroon have played for Europe’s top first-division league clubs. Many have played for other leagues, including their national division league.
Cameroon former player Samuel Eto’o is one of the greatest Cameroon players to date. He created history playing 118 caps and scoring 56 goals for the Indomitable Lions in his seventeen years-long tenure.
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Eto’o is the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation. Likewise, Rigobert Song, Joseph-Antonie Bell, Patric Mboma, and Roger Milla are also called the greatest of all-time players from Cameroon.
Cameroon Qatar World Cup 2022 squad/preparation
One of the talented teams from Africa, Cameroon, won the FIFA World Cup qualification finals with an away goal rule against Algeria in the second league. Cameroon set a plan for a couple of friendly matches before the tournament begins. Furthermore, it will face Uzbekistan on September 23 and South Korea on September 27, respectively.
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The Indomitable Lions team will be in Group G, along with Brazil, Switzerland, and Serbia. It will play its first match with Switzerland on November 24, 2022, at AL Janaoub Stadium.
A former Cameroon player Rigobert Song leads the current team as a head coach and captain Vincent Aboubakar. Here is the latest squad of the Cameroon national team for the Qatar World Cup 2022.
