Hugos Broos |
The Indomitable Lions face BafanaBafana on
March 26, 2016 at the LimbeOmnisport Stadium with HugosBroos’ team depleted due
to absences, injuries, suspensions and the problem of choice of which national
team to play for.
This
dilemma creates a new dimension to the game as the depth of both teams is
tested in a decisive battle.
Cameroon are five points shy of
BafanaBafana in Group M of the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers, and need a win to
keep their hopes alive of reaching Gabon next year.
After a promising start, injuries, absences
and doubts have taken a toll, but excuses are not what Cameroonians expect from
the Belgian tactician right now. However, Hugo Broos has to do without veteran
goalkeeper Carlos Kameni who had to undergo knee surgery. He is also without
Tottenham Hotspur attacker Clinton N’Jie (injured) and EyongEnoh (injured),
Joel Matip who refused to play and Vincent Aboubakar (one match suspension) are
all out, leaving Cameroon with holes across their entire squad.
For
the team to competitively challenge to maintain the top spot, plagues of
missing players do not suffice.
Meanwhile, there are doubts about the
fitness of Schalke midfielder Eric Choupo-Moting and France-based striker
Benjamin Moukandjo, who have both been injured in recent weeks.
Another
case is that of Crew SC midfielder Tony Tchani who is in the mix to play for
Cameroon. Though Tchani has yet to play a game for Cameroon, where he was born,
it is clear the naturalised US citizen is considered part of the lion’s player
pool.
He
took part in the US pool last month, when he was called into the US team’s
annual January camp and made his US debut in a friendly against Iceland on
January 31, 2016.
At
some point, Tchani will have to choose which nation he will represent. Because
his US appearance came in a friendly, it did not tie him to the American team.
Alexandre
Song’s return is also a doubt. Broos said he has met with the West Ham
midfielder: “I was in London, and I discussed with Alexandre Song. I tried to
convince him to return, but it is up to him to make the final decision. I want
players who have the desire and motivation,” the Lions’ coach said.
Unlike
Alexandre Song, Joel Matip, was not called. But Hugo Broos has informed
reporters that Schalke 04 defender does not want to play for the Indomitable
Lions.
“I
spoke with Joel Matip, and I feel that he was not motivated to come. For his
case, he will remain with his European club. I want my players to be motivated
and focused,” he explained.
This
shows a new side of Cameroon in these two games with little experience. Seven
new players, including one local player and two comebacks made up the 27-man
squad. There is also the arrival of three new players who are called up for the
very first time to the national selection namely; Abang Anatole, Toko Karl and
TeikeuAdolphe.
However,
with such a dearth of first team players available, Broos has a difficult debut
to make, he will have to look to the youngsters, and they may prove to be the
spark the club needs for not only these back to back games, but also its quest
for redemption.
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