As we countdown to the World Cup we preview each of the sides taking part. Next up it is Cameroon.
As we countdown to the start of the World Cup on June 11, Fox Soccer's Jamie Trecker will preview each of the 32 teams playing in South Africa and tell you everything you need to know about each nation represented at the world's greatest sporting event. Here he looks a Cameroon.
Not only do they have sport's coolest nickname, the Indomitable Lions, Cameroon is also now home to Africa's most successful national team, boasting a legacy of continental success that is the envy of Africa.
A republic, Cameroon is nestled in the central-west of the continent, with Nigeria to its west and the DRC, Equitorial Guinea and Gabon to the South. Chad and Central Africa Republic are its other two neighbours. It sits on the Atlantic at the Bight of Bonny, and is a former colony of both England and France (it was divided post-WWI). As in Algeria, a guerilla war was waged against France in the northern part of the country for two decades before independence and reunification.
A relatively stable African nation, Cameroon is split linguistically and culturally between its French-speaking and English-speaking populace.
Despite some well-established industries (timber, agriculture, oil), many people in the country still live on subsistence wages. That said, it is still one of the wealthier nations per capita in the sub-Saharan region.
Football is the national sport, and many of the top players have been exported to major teams in France, Spain, Germany and England. Cameroon is also known for being hit by footballing tragedy. In particular, the death of Marc-Vivien Foe cast a pall over the team and international football. Foe collapsed during the 2003 Confederations Cup during a game against Colombia, and could not be revived. An autopsy later suggested a previously unknown heart defect had led to his death.
PAST WORLD CUP SUCCESS:
Six-time qualifiers, they became the first African team to reach the quarterfinals in 1990, when they pushed England to the limit before losing. Unfortunately, they've gone out in the group stage every other time.
REGIONAL SUCCESS:
Four-time winners of the African Cup of Nations, they also won gold at the 2000 Olympic Games.
LEAGUE OVERVIEW:
An 11-team league, of which only Cotonsport is at all notable. Cotonsport is a regular presence on the continental stage, but their best finish was runners-up in the CAF Confederations Cup in 2008.
MANAGER:
Paul Le Guen. He's had a shaky record. At Lyon, he led the club to glory. At Rangers, he didn't fit in at all, and was sacked. He didn't recover with Paris Saint-Germain, either, and originally signed a short-term deal with Cameroon. He has a good track record with younger players, however, having turned Rennes from a doormat into a decent Ligue 1 side through shrewd scouting and management.
KEY PLAYERS:
They have a lot. Alex Song (Arsenal) is perhaps the key man this time out. He was arguably the Gunners' most improved player this season. His uncle, Rigobert (Trabzonspor), is the hard man in the back. Samuel Eto'o is the game-changing forward, though his goalscoring has dropped since leaving Barcelona for Inter Milan. Jean Makoun was a key midfielder for Lyon during their European run. Pierre Webo has shaken off injury to become a solid contributor at Mallorca and could pair up top with Eto'o.
FIFA RANKINGS:
19th. Highest was 11th (2006) and lowest was 62nd (1997).
FIRST ROUND OPPONENTS:
Denmark, Japan, Holland
HOW THEY QUALIFIED:
Cameroon got off to a very slow start, losing to Togo and then playing a scoreless draw against Morocco that saw then-coach Otto Pfister sacked. Le Guen took over and Cameroon proceeded to win four straight to finish top of Group A.
