The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Indomitable Lions

  • Egypt maintain winning streak, as Cameroon go top of Group J

    Egypt maintain winning streak, as Cameroon go top of Group J

    The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon roared to the top of Group J on Friday afternoon after a commanding 4-1 victory over Kenya saw them go two points above Zimbabwe who overcame Namibia on Thursday.

    Veteran goal poacher, Vincent Aboubakar opened the floodgates in the 8th minute with a converted penalty before Martin Hongla, Byan Mbeumo as well as Christian Bassogog completed the rout.

    The Ugandan Cranes continued in their fine form as they laboured to a 1-0 victory over South Sudan. The result puts them in a good position as they battle for the top spot with South Africa who play host to Congo.

    In Cairo, The Pharaohs continued their dominance of Group C when they comfortably cruised past Mauritania by 2-0.

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    Goals by Trézéguet as well as the ever-green Mohamed Salah ensured the record African champions continued their winning streak.

    Meanwhile, The Gambia managed to secure a crucial away point when they shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw with Madagascar.

    The result still puts them within a touching distance of run-away Group A leaders, Tunisia who lead the pack with four points ahead of their match against Comoros.

  • Eto’o, Indomitable Lions coach caught  in angry exchange

    Eto’o, Indomitable Lions coach caught  in angry exchange

    Cameroon football  has plunged deeper into crisis after a meeting between football federation president Samuel Eto’o and the country’s new Belgian coach Marc Brys turned into an angry showdown.

    It was the first time Eto’o was meeting Brys, who was appointed by the country’s sports ministry in early April without any input from the Cameroon Football Federation, setting up a standoff between the two.

    Brys had been invited for a “working session” by Eto’o as Cameroon prepare for World Cup qualifiers next month, but several of his support staff, also appointed by the sports ministry, were refused entry to the FECAFOOT federation building in Yaounde.

    Video circulating on several social media sites (@AllezLesLions), filmed by reporters, show Eto’o welcoming Brys but their exchanges quickly turned into a melodrama.

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    First Eto’o angrily kicked out a ministry official who wanted to attend the meeting, and then he had a fiery exchange with Brys, who left immediately.

    A statement is expected later from FECAFOOT, who had expressed a willingness to work with the Belgian despite initially slamming his appointment as a unilateral decision by sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombito.

    Normally, the football federation would appoint and pay its coaches but in some African countries this is done by the government, especially when federations are cash-strapped.

    Former African Footballer of the Year Eto’o, who had a storied career playing in Europe, has tried to assert some independence but has also had to tread carefully in a country where matters around the football team are high priority for the government.

    Long-standing Cameroon president Paul Biya has often weighed in on team affairs, famously demanding that 38-year-old Roger Milla be included in the squad for the 1990 World Cup.

    The veteran striker went on to score key goals as Cameroon became the first African country to reach the quarter-finals.

    Cameroon have qualified for eight World Cup tournaments, more than any other African country, making the Indomitable Lions one of the country’s major assets.

    They are due to play the Cape Verde Islands in Yaounde on June 8 and Angola away three days later in their latest qualifying games for the 2026 finals in North America.

  • Oman Biyik back as Cameroon announce Seedorf replacement

     

    Former international Francois Omam Biyik is back in Cameroon coaching crew after he was announced as Deputy to surprise Head coach Toni Conceicao.

    It is the second return for Omam Biyik who was assistant to Javier Clement from 2010-11.

    The Sports Ministry announced Saturday the appointment of Portuguese coach Toni Conceicao to take over from Clarence Seedorf who was sacked after the 2019 Nations cup in Egypt where the Indomitable Lions crashed out in the round of 16 losing 3-2 to Super Eagles of Nigeria

    A brief statement announced the appointment but remained silent on the terms of contract offered the 57 year old Portuguese who has handled 16 different coaching posts in the last 15 years.

    This however is the first time the former CFR Cluj and Bragga coach will be handling a national team. The coach who has been in and out of CFR Cluj began his third spell with the side on July 26 2018 but was sacked eight months later following a run of three games without a win.

    Indomitable Lions new coach Toni Conceicao

    His initiation match with the Indomitable Lions will be on October 12 when he is expected to face 2019 Nations cup fourth place finishers Tunisia in an international friendly at the Rades Stadium.

    A mainly club coach he has coached clubs in Cyprus and Saudi Arabia respectively.

    Some analysts believe the experience of Omam Biyik will be useful additions to what Conceicao is bringing to the table.

    Omam Biyik scored the goal that saw Cameroon beat holders Argentina in the opening game of the 1990 World Cup in Italy and reach that historical quarter-final place.

    He also played at the 1994 and 1998 finals. Soccer fans in Nigeria will remember Omam Biyik, now 53 in the 1990 World cup qualifiers where Nigeria needed just a draw to head to the world cup but it was Oman Biyik who scored the only goal that dashed that dream in the 31st minute in Younde.

    As a coach he has handled clubs in Gabon, Mexico and Togo.