Cameroon national football team
Nickname(s) |
Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Association | Fédération Camerounaise de Football | |||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
Sub-confederation |
UNIFFAC (Central Africa) | |||
Head coach | Hugo Broos | |||
Captain | Stéphane Mbia | |||
Most caps | Rigobert Song (137) | |||
Top scorer | Samuel Eto'o (56)[1] | |||
Home stadium | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo | |||
FIFA code | CMR | |||
| ||||
FIFA ranking | ||||
Current | 59 5 (15 September 2016) | |||
Highest | 11 (November 2006 – January 2007, November–December 2009) | |||
Lowest | 79 (February–March 2013) | |||
Elo ranking | ||||
Current | 53 (28 June 2016) | |||
Highest | 12 (June 2003) | |||
Lowest | 76 (April 1995) | |||
First international | ||||
Belgian Congo 3–2 French Cameroon (Belgian Congo; September 1956) | ||||
Biggest win | ||||
Cameroon 9–0 Chad (DR Congo; April 1965) | ||||
Biggest defeat | ||||
Norway 6–1 Cameroon (Oslo, Norway; 31 October 1990) Russia 6–1 Cameroon (Palo Alto, California, United States; 28 June 1994) Costa Rica 5–0 Cameroon (San José, Costa Rica; 9 March 1997) | ||||
World Cup | ||||
Appearances | 7 (first in 1982) | |||
Best result | Quarter-finals, 1990 | |||
Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
Appearances | 16 (first in 1970) | |||
Best result | Champions, 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002 | |||
Confederations Cup | ||||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2001) | |||
Best result | Runners-up, 2003 |
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed in French Les Lions Indomptables (The Indomitable Lions or Untameable Lions), is the national team of Cameroon. It is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and has qualified seven times for the FIFA World Cup, more than any other African team (in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014). However, the team has only made it once out of the group stage. They were the first African team to reach the quarter-final of the World Cup, in 1990, losing to England in extra time. They have also won four Africa Cup of Nations titles.
History
First games
Cameroon played its first match against Belgian Congo in 1956, losing 3–2. They first qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 1970, but were knocked out in the first round. Two years later, as host nation, the Indomitable Lions finished third after being knocked out by their neighbours and future champions Congo in the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations. They would not qualify for the competition for another ten years.
FIFA 1982 World Cup – the first time
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 eventual winners Italy, Poland and Peru. In their first game, Cameroon faced Peru and drew 0–0. They then had a second goalless draw with Poland before a surprise 1–1 draw with Italy. Despite being unbeaten they failed to qualify for the second round.
African Nations, 1984
Two years later, Cameroon qualified for the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, held in the Ivory Coast. They finished second in their first-round group before beating Algeria on penalties in the semi-final. In the final, Cameroon beat Nigeria 3–1 with goals from René N'Djeya, Théophile Abega and Ernest Ebongué to become champions of Africa for the first time.
FIFA 1990 World Cup – Quarter Finals
Cameroon qualified for the 1990 World Cup by 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 defeated defending champions Argentina in the opening game 1–0 with a goal scored by François Omam-Biyik. Cameroon later defeated Romania 2–1 and lost to the Soviet Union 0–4, 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 the 38-year-old Roger Milla scoring two goals in the extra time.
In the quarter-finals, Cameroon faced England. After 25 minutes, England's David Platt scored for England, while in the second-half, Cameroon came back with a 61st-minute penalty from Emmanuel Kundé and took the lead with Eugène Ekéké on 65 minutes. England, however, equalized in the 83rd minute with a penalty from Gary Lineker, while Lineker again found the net via a 105th-minute penalty to make the eventual scoreline 3–2 for England. The team was coached by Russian manager and former player Valeri Nepomniachi.
1994 World Cup
The 1994 World Cup in the United States 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 a 2–2 draw against Sweden, Cameroon were determined to make an impact. However, a 3–0 loss to Brazil and a heavy 6–1 loss to Russia knocked them out. In their last game against Russia, the then 42-year-old Roger Milla became the oldest player to play and score in a World Cup finals match. The team was coached by French-born Henri Michel.
1998 World Cup
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. Despite drawing with Chile and Austria, a 3–0 defeat to Italy saw Cameroon finish bottom of the group, and they were eliminated as a result. It was an unfortunate elimination, since Cameroon had led Austria 1–0 until the 90th minute, and had two goals dubiously ruled out in a 1–1 draw with Chile. Cameroon had three players sent off in the course of the tournament, more than any other team, despite only playing three games out of a possible seven. They also had the highest card count per game of any team, collecting an average of four bookings in each match they played.[2] It was also during this tournament that a certain Samuel Eto'o was exposed to Cameroonians. He was the youngest player of the tournament alongside Michael Owen of England. The team was coached by French-born Claude Le Roy.
2002 FIFA World Cup
Cameroon qualified for the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan, clinching first place in their group which included Angola, Zambia and Togo. Cameroon were drawn into Group E alongside Germany, the Republic of 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.
Missing out on Germany 2006
In the 2006 World Cup qualifying round, Cameroon were drawn into Group 3 with the Ivory Coast, Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Benin. Cameroon led the group for most of the time until their final game, when Pierre Womé failed to convert a late penalty. On 8 October 2005, Cameroon drew with Egypt 1–1 while the Ivory Coast defeated Sudan 3–1, results which prevented Cameroon from qualifying to the World Cup.
2010 World Cup Qualification
In Cameroon's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, the team was grouped with Gabon, Togo and Morocco. After a slow start in their campaign with a loss to Togo, the coach of Cameroon, Otto Pfister, resigned. Frenchman Paul Le Guen was appointed as the new coach after a draw against Morocco. Le Guen's appointment caused an uprise in Cameroon's spirits as they earned a win against Gabon in Libreville, followed by another win against the Panthers four days later in Yaoundé. One month later, they defeated Togo in Yaoundé by three goals. On 14 November 2009, Cameroon defeated the Atlas Lions of Morocco 2–0 in Fez in their last match of their campaign. Gabon was also defeated by Togo 1–0 in Lomé. Both results caused Cameroon to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals, held in South Africa.[3]
The Indomitable Lions were the first team to be mathematically eliminated in the 2010 World Cup, going out in their second group match to Denmark after losing 1–2, followed by a 0–1 defeat to Japan.
Controversy about sleeveless and one-piece kits
Cameroon used sleeveless Puma shirts at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. FIFA, however, did not allow Cameroon to use the same kits as at the 2002 World Cup, and black sleeves were added to the shirts.[4] 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, but FIFA subsequently restored the six qualifying points to Cameroon.
The death of a team member
In the 72nd minute of the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final between Cameroon and Colombia, midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed; he was pronounced dead several hours later. In the final against France, Cameroon wore shirts embroidered with Foé's name and dates of birth and death.
World Cup record
FIFA World Cup record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
1930 to 1962 |
Did Not Enter | |||||||
1966 | Withdrew | |||||||
1970 to 1978 |
Did Not Qualify | |||||||
1982 | Group Stage | 17th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
1986 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
1990 | Quarter-Finals | 7th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
1994 | Group Stage | 22nd | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
1998 | 25th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
2002 | 20th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
2006 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
2010 | Group Stage | 31st | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
2014 | 32nd | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
2018 | To Be Determined | |||||||
2022 | ||||||||
Total | Quarter-Final | 7/20 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 43 |
FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA | Squad |
1992 | Did Not Qualify | ||||||||
1995 | |||||||||
1997 | |||||||||
1999 | |||||||||
2001 | Group Stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Squad |
2003 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Squad |
2005 | Did Not Qualify | ||||||||
2009 | |||||||||
2013 | |||||||||
2017 | To Be Determined | ||||||||
2021 | |||||||||
Total | Runners-up | 2/9 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | - |
Africa Cup of Nations record
Host nation(s) / Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1957 to 1965 | Did Not Enter | |||||||
1968 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
1970 | Group Stage | 5th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 |
1972 | Third Place | 3rd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 |
1974 to 1980 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
1982 | Group Stage | 5th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
1984 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 |
1986 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
1988 | Champions | 1st | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
1990 | Group Stage | 5th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
1992 | Fourth Place | 4th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
1994 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
1996 | Group Stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
1998 | Quarter-Finals | 8th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
2000 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 |
2002 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
2004 | Quarter-Finals | 6th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
2006 | Quarter-Finals | 5th | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
2008 | Runners-up | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 8 |
2010 | Quarter-Finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
2012 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
2013 | ||||||||
2015 | Group Stage | 13th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
2017 | Qualified | |||||||
2019 | Qualified as host | |||||||
2021 | To Be Determined | |||||||
2023 | ||||||||
Total | 4 Titles | 19/29 | 71 | 37 | 20 | 14 | 110 | 67 |
- *Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Record | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
1900 to 1960 | Did not enter | |||||||
1964 to 1972 | Did not qualify | |||||||
1976 | Did not enter | |||||||
1980 | Did not qualify | |||||||
1984 | Round 1 | 11th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
1988 | Did not qualify | |||||||
Total | — | 1/19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
- Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since 1992.
Recent results and fixtures
Win Draw Lose
2015
7 January 2015 Friendly | Cameroon | 1–1 | DR Congo | Yaoundé, Cameroon |
---|---|---|---|---|
14:30 UTC+0 | Etoundi 37' | Report | Bolasie 90' | Stadium: Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo |
20 January 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage | Mali | 1–1 | Cameroon | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:00 UTC+0 | S. Yatabaré 71' | Report | Oyongo 84' | Stadium: Nuevo Estadio de Malabo Referee: Janny Sikazwe (Zambia) |
24 January 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage | Cameroon | 1–1 | Guinea | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:00 UTC+0 | Moukandjo 13' | Report | I. Traoré 42' | Stadium: Nuevo Estadio de Malabo Attendance: 15,000 Referee: Tessema Bamlak (Ethiopia) |
28 January 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Group Stage | Cameroon | 0–1 | Ivory Coast | Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
---|---|---|---|---|
18:00 UTC+0 | Report | Gradel 35' | Stadium: Nuevo Estadio de Malabo Attendance: 15,230 Referee: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon) |
25 March 2015 Friendly | Indonesia | 0–1 | Cameroon | Sidoarjo, Indonesia |
---|---|---|---|---|
17:00 UTC+7 | Report | Aboubakar 35' | Stadium: Gelora Delta Putra Stadium |
30 March 2015 Friendly | Thailand | 2–3 | Cameroon | Bangkok, Thailand |
---|---|---|---|---|
19.00 UTC+8 | Deeporm 15' Chedjou 33' (o.g.) |
Report | Moukandjo 42' N'Jie 77' (pen.) Ndassi 88' |
Stadium: Rajamangala Stadium Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera |
2016
6 January 2016 Friendly | Rwanda | 1–1 | Cameroon | Gisenyi, Rwanda |
---|---|---|---|---|
14:00 GMT | Rwatubyaye 40' | Report | Ngamaleu 54' | Stadium: Stade Umuganda Attendance: 5000 |
26 March 2016 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Cameroon | 2–2 | South Africa | Limbé, Cameroon |
---|---|---|---|---|
14:30 GMT | Siani 45' Nkoulou 66' |
Report | Rantie 17' Kekana 50' |
Stadium: Stade Municipal de Limbé |
29 March 2016 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | South Africa | 0–0 | Cameroon | Durban, South Africa |
---|---|---|---|---|
18:00 GMT | Report | Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium |
30 May 2016 Friendly | France | 3–2 | Cameroon | Nantes, France |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Matuidi 20' Giroud 41' Payet 90' |
Report | Aboubakar 22' Choupo-Moting 88' |
Stadium: Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau Attendance: 38000 Referee: S. Evans |
3 June 2016 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Mauritania | 0–1 | Cameroon | Nouakchott, Mauritania |
---|---|---|---|---|
18:00 GMT | Report | Salli 31' | Stadium: Stade Olympique de Nouakchott Referee: Hamada Nampiandraza |
3 September 2016 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | Cameroon | 2–0 | Gambia | Limbé, Cameroon |
---|---|---|---|---|
15:30 UTC+2 | Report | Moukandjo 35' (pen) Ekambi 53' |
Stadium: Stade Municipal de Limbé Referee: Joseph Lamptey |
6 September 2016 Friendly | Cameroon | 2–1 | Gabon | Limbé, Cameroon |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:00 UTC+1 | Abang 64' Salli 92' |
Report | Kanga 75' | Stadium: Limbé Omnisport Stadium Attendance: 10000 |
9 October 2016 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | Algeria | 1-1 | Cameroon | Blida, Algeria |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:30 UTC+1 | Soudani 7' | Report | Moukandjo 24' | Stadium: Stade Mustapha Tchaker |
12 November 2016 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | Cameroon | v | Zambia | Cameroon |
---|---|---|---|---|
16:00 UTC+1 |
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Zambia on 12 November 2016.[5]
Caps and goals updated as of 12 November 2016 after the match against Zambia.[6]
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for Cameroon's squad within the past 12 months.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Carlos Kameni | 18 February 1984 | 72 | 0 | Málaga | v. France, 30 May 2016 |
DF | Sébastien Bassong | 9 July 1986 | 18 | 0 | Norwich City | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
DF | Jean-Patrick Abouna | 27 September 1990 | 8 | 0 | Léopards | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
MF | Stéphane Mbia | 20 May 1986 | 67 | 5 | Hebei China Fortune | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
MF | Landry N'Guémo | 28 November 1985 | 42 | 3 | Akhisar Belediyespor | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
MF | Dani Ndi | 18 August 1995 | 5 | 0 | Sporting Gijón | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
MF | Marvin Matip | 25 September 1985 | 3 | 0 | FC Ingolstadt | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
MF | Tony Tchani | 13 April 1989 | 1 | 0 | Columbus Crew | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
MF | Alex Song | 9 September 1987 | 49 | 0 | Rubin Kazan | v. South Africa, 26 March 2016 DEC |
FW | Christian Bekamenga | 9 May 1986 | 1 | 0 | Metz | v. South Africa, 29 March 2016 |
DEC Player declined the call-up to the squad
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury
RET Retired from international football
In addition, the squad that participated in the 2016 African Nations Championship (which features only players registered with clubs in Cameroon, but matches count as full internationals) included several players not listed above.
Records
Caps and goals updated as of June 3, 2016.
|
|
Managers
|
|
|
Honours
- Quarter-Final (1): 1990
- Runners-up (1): 2003
- Gold Medal(1): 2000
See also
References
- ↑ "9 Samuel ETOO". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
- ↑ "Top Cards – France 1998". fifa.com. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
- ↑ "Indomitable Lions roar through to record sixth finals". ESPN. 2009-11-14. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
- ↑ "Fifa bans Cameroon shirts". BBC Sport. 2002-03-09. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ↑ "Russia 2018 : Cameroon Coach Hugo Bross summons 23 lions to face Zambia on November 12 in Limbe". Fédération Camerounaise de Football. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ↑ "Cameroon".
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cameroon national football team. |
- Fédération Camerounaise de Football official site
- RSSSF archive of results 1960–
- 2010 World Cup ESPN Profile