Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi attributed Andre Onana’s suspension by Cameroon at the World Cup to a “misunderstanding”.

The 26-year-old Nerazzurri goalkeeper was dropped for his country’s second group game against Serbia, subsequently leaving Qatar before their final game against Brazil.

Onana issued a statement in the wake of his shock demotion, which Cameroon team officials put down to undisclosed “disciplinary reasons”.

Reports suggested Onana’s omission came after a disagreement with boss Rigobert Song over his playing style in the 1-0 loss against Switzerland, when he had the most touches outside the box by a goalkeeper ever recorded in a World Cup match (26).

Inzaghi has spoken to Onana since his departure and does not believe he has been affected by the situation.

“I’ve spoken to all the guys involved in the World Cup,” he said. “We have four who made it to the quarter-finals.

“Romelu Lukaku and Onana are out; they will arrive between Friday and Saturday and join the group. Physically they are all fine, we are expecting them.

“There was a misunderstanding that he [Onana] paid for, but I spoke to him and he is calm.

“I can talk about what happened at Inter. He’s a positive guy; when he had to be on the bench he stayed there, when he had to play he played.

“On Friday he’ll be in Appiano and will start working with us.”

Inzaghi also had his say on Lukaku, who endured a torrid time as Belgium crashed out in the group stage with a 0-0 draw against Croatia in their final game.

The Inter striker was brought on at half-time by Red Devils boss Roberto Martinez, but conspired to miss a host of wonderful chances to win the game for his side.

“Clearly he was disappointed,” Inzaghi added. “It’s a World Cup and he cares so much about his national team.

“He played 45 minutes and he had three chances. If you are getting the chances, a striker has to stay calm.”

Inter return to Serie A action on January 4 against Napoli, but have friendlies against Salzburg, Real Betis, Reggina and Sassuolo before then.

Source: Yahoo News

Samuel Eto’o – the Cameroon Football Association president – was filmed having his photo taken with fans following Brazil’s win over South Korea on Monday; the 41-year-old then appears to take exception to a comment made by one of the individuals before chasing them; there was then a physical altercation

Former Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has apologised for what he described as a “violent altercation” at the World Cup in Qatar on Monday night.

A video circulating on social media appears to show the 41-year-old kneeing a man in the head outside Stadium 974 in Doha.

In a statement, Eto’o, who is the Cameroon FA president, said he was provoked by a fan who was “probably” an Algeria supporter as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment following Cameroon’s qualifying win over Algeria in March.

“After the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably an Algerian supporter,” Eto’o wrote on his social media channels.

“I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. I apologise to the public for this unfortunate incident.”

The video initially appears to show Eto’o happy to pose for pictures with fans in the area outside the stadium, which staged the last-16 match between Brazil and South Korea on Monday.

However, he then seems to react to something and is initially restrained from attacking a man by those around him.

He breaks away from those individuals and appears to strike the man in the head with his knee.

The former Inter Milan and Chelsea striker has been a global ambassador for Qatar’s World Cup organising committee since 2019.

Algeria filed a complaint over the performance of the referee in the qualifying play-off in Blida, in which Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi scored the winner with the last kick of the match.

Eto’o added: “I pledge to continue to resist the relentless provocation and daily harassment of some Algerian supporters.

“Indeed, since the Cameroon-Algeria match on 28 March in Blida, I have been the target of insults and allegations of cheating without any evidence.”

Sky Sports News has asked for comment from the Cameroon FA, FIFA and the Qatari authorities.

Eto’o, who retired from football in 2019, scored 56 goals in 118 caps for Cameroon and represented his country at four World Cups between 1998 and 2014.

Reported by Sky Sports News

As Cameroon gear up for their must-win tie against Brazil, the African nation will be hoping to emulate their head coach Rigobert Song in overcoming the odds.

Song will arguably go down as one of Cameroon’s brightest stars along with former teammate Samuel Eto’o. The former Liverpool defender has played in four World Cups as a player and is currently making an appearance at his fifth, in his role as Cameroon’s coach.

Known for his dreadlock and dyed blonde goatee, Song was appointed as Cameroon’s head coach in February earlier this year replacing Portuguese coach Toni Conceicao.

Song then overcame a stern test against Algeria, helping Cameroon book their place in at the 2022 World Cup in a winner take all showdown.

Overcoming a stroke

While Song is no stranger to overcoming serious pressure, his greatest achievement so far has to be his recovery following a stroke in 2016.

Song acknowledges to L’Equipe that it was his dog who ultimately saved his life.

“I was watching TV, but I felt very tired,” Song told L’Equipe

“I left the door open because I was expecting a visitor. If it had been closed, it was over because my family was in Paris. My dog must have felt something and started barking. Then the person who was waiting came and saw me lying on the floor.”

Biya’s intervention

Following the stroke, Song had trouble securing the required hospital attention he needed and thanks then-president Paul Biya and his family for their support.

“Without him [Biya] or his wife, I would not be here today. I cannot be grateful enough,” Song continued

“The president of Cameroon told my family that he would take care of everything and he flew me to Paris.”

The afterlife

In his comatose state Song says he had a series of visions that eventually helped him recover, including a meeting with his father who died when Rigobert was still a child.

“It was like a dream,” Song stated.

“I reunited with my ancestors. My father died when I was 9 years old, but I recognized him. He told me: ‘What are you doing here? You have to go back. ‘

“It happened to me with Alex Song’s father and my father’s older brother. By dint of listening to them, I started to fight. I had incredible strength! and I started screaming: Release me, release me!”

Song will be hoping to instill this level of resilience in his players when Cameroon take on Brazil on December 3. The African nation have only made the knockout stages once before during 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Source: Marca

A former international footballer Rigobert Song, famous for his defending, played four World Cups for Cameroon in 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010, respectively. He debuted against Mexico on September 22, 1993.

Song had an illustrious career, playing for Liverpool, West Ham United in England, Lens in France and Galatasaray in Turkey.

He retired in 2010 after playing 414 matches in club football and 137 matches for Cameroon. He also holds the record for the most appearances in the African Cup of Nations at eight.

Song has been associated with Cameroon’s national set-up since 2016 as a coach. Since then, he managed Cameroon A, the U-23 side, and the senior national team as a caretaker manager for a year.

Song was appointed as the head coach of Cameroon in February 2022 after Toni Conceicao quit in the aftermath of Cameroon’s third-place finish in the AFCONS earlier this year. This is Song’s first managerial experience at the senior level.

The Indomitable Lions confirmed its ticket to Qatar, beating Algeria in the playoffs to be one of the five African teams in the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup.

Under Song’s coaching, Cameroon usually lines up in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation.

Song would be hoping to see his team go beyond its best performance – a quarterfinal finish in the 1990 World Cup – with players from the domestic league and Europe joining the squad. The most notable name from those who arrived from Europe is Bryan Mbeumo. The Brentford forward decided to represent Cameroon instead of France in the World Cup.

Source: Sportstar

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo says he will go “crazy inside” should he have the honour of starting a game for Cameroon at the World Cup.

The 23-year-old was called up for the finals in Qatar, where the Indomitable Lions face Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland, despite only making his debut in September.

Having called it a dream come true to contest football’s greatest event, Mbeumo would relish lining up for the anthems.

“I’ve always wanted to play a World Cup since I was young,” Mbeumo told BBC Sport Africa.

“Just to walk around the pitch with a big crowd and other stuff would be amazing. It’s going to be crazy inside me.”

Cameroon will play in the 40,000-capacity Al Janoub Stadium, twice, and the 80,000-capacity Lusail Iconic Stadium, which hosts the final itself on 18 December.

Mbeumo only recently chose to represent the central Africans after playing at various youth levels for France, where he was born, with his switch formalised just three months ago.

His father comes from Douala, where Mbeumo still has “a lot of family”, with other relatives in the capital Yaounde.

Douala is also the home city of four-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o, who has led the Cameroonian FA since late 2021 and who played a key role in enlisting Mbeumo.

Prior to the Avalon-born Mbeumo committing his future to the five-time African champions, the pair went out for dinner in Brentford’s home city London.

“It was an honour for me just to be face-to-face with him and talk to him because he was one of the best strikers in the world,” he explained.

“He told me about the project, what we can do and I enjoyed this moment. It’s a big thing for someone like him to want you in his team.”

Eto’o amassed four Champions League and two African titles during his distinguished playing career, and Mbeumo says the former Barcelona star is aiming high after Cameroon lost their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on home soil against Egypt in February.

Family ties

Mbeumo describes the decision to discard his mother’s homeland for Cameroon as “hard and long”.

He grew up watching Nations Cup matches and says he knows Cameroon well, unlike some dual nationals who can have scant knowledge of their adopted nations.

“As I played for France in the youth team and grew up in France as well, it was hard but I have travelled to Cameroon many times,” said the softly-spoken Indomitable Lion.

“My dad is very proud, and very happy for me. I’m grateful to be part of this for him, and for my family, and he’s very happy.”

Mbeumo’s Cameroon debut came in a 2-0 defeat by Uzbekistan before a 1-0 loss against South Korea, with both games in Seoul.

“These were my first games in [senior] international football, so I learned a lot. It’s a different type of game.”

It is also a different dressing room for Mbeumo, who was playing second-tier French football as recently as 2019 for Troyes.

Accustomed to a buzzing Bees dressing room, he is enjoying his time with Cameroon’s squad, who often sing and dance en route to matches.

“In our dressing room, we love music as well and like dancing but in there, it’s unbelievable! So fun.”

There is serious music to be faced in Qatar though.

Despite impressing in their first two World Cups – unbeaten in 1982, prior to becoming the first Africans to reach the quarter-finals in 1990 – Cameroon’s recent record is poor.

In 15 matches dating back to the 1994 finals, they have won just once – a tight 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia (with Eto’o scoring) in 2002 – and lost 10, while conceding over 30 goals.

Fast start

For Mbeumo to boost their hopes, the gliding forward must speed-learn both international football and the playing styles of his new team-mates.

Cameroon have one final warm-up match, against Panama on 18 November in Abu Dhabi, prior to their Group G opener against Switzerland on 24 November, with clashes against Serbia (28 November) and Brazil (2 December) to follow.

The squad announced by former Liverpool defender Rigobert Song saw Nicolas Nkoulou recalled after a five-year absence and Mbeumo among 11 players with five caps or fewer.

“It’s difficult because you are meeting new players, yet you need to create links between each other,” said Mbeumo, who regularly provides chances at club level.

“It takes time and of course it’s going to be hard. I want good relations with my team-mates.”

He has joined Cameroon’s WhatsApp group to know the rest of the squad better, especially since only one other Indomitable Lion – Swansea City’s Olivier Ntcham – is based in the United Kingdom.

While expecting tough games from Switzerland – “very good job in the Euros” – and Serbia – “very good, very consistent” – Mbeumo does not believe Cameroon need to have gathered all their points before the final Brazil clash.

“I don’t think that’s the aim. We have to aim big, dream big as we don’t just want to be part of this competition – we want to do something.”

His words amplify the targets of Eto’o, whose striking prowess returned 184 goals from 303 games for Barcelona and Inter Milan.

In contrast, Mbeumo’s finishing can be wayward, as emphasised by his hitting the post eight times last season, and he admits to asking Eto’o for tips.

Both will hope these sink in as Africa’s record eight-time World Cup qualifiers try to reach the knock-out stages for only the second time.

A more realistic chance of silverware comes in 2024 when Ivory Coast hosts the next Nations Cup, a tournament Mbeumo also cannot wait to savour.

“Playing the Nations Cup is something very big in Africa, so it’s going to be very nice – I’m excited.”

With two major finals looming in the next 14 months, it’s quite a start for this latest Indomitable Lion as he roams afresh in the African football savannah.

Culled from the BBC

The Cameroon national team announced its list of 26 players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in which it will compete in Group G alongside of Serbia, Brazil and Switzerland.

Local and international media were offended by what happened at the squad announcement, and there are concerns about their coach, the legendary Rigobert Song, a former Cameroonian footballer who played in four World Cups.

The suspicions are because when Song was sitting in the press conference to announce the 26 names, something surprising and unexpected happened.

The coach was repeatedly stumped when pronouncing the names of some players and, on some occasions, did not know how to pronounce some surnames so it was the journalists who came to his rescue to which Song responded with a “thank you, thank you”.

It didn’t end there, because Song was frozen when he saw the notebook where those names were written. He had to consult the advisor who was next to him. This did not sit well in the country’s confidence in his team at the World Cup.

Doubts around Lions at the 2022 World Cup

Cameroonian media point out that Song might not have much say in the making of the roster, highlighting the interference of the Cameroon Football Federation in which 26 players would go to the World Cup.

Another possible reason is that Song has only been in charge for a short time and therefore does not know all his players. Until February this year, the position was held by the Portuguese Antonio Conceicao, who was surprisingly dismissed, considering his numbers of three defeats, six draws and 14 victories.

Song was chosen to replace him and had the difficult task of overcoming a tough qualifying round against Algeria, which he did with much suffering, to secure a ticket to the 2022 World Cup.

His record is two wins, one draw and three defeats. Their last friendly will be against Panama on November 18, six days before the opener against Switzerland.

In Cameroon, they hope to forget this embarrassment with a good start in the World Cup.

Source: Marca.com

Shanghai Shenhua’s Cameroon forward Christian Bassogog plans to fly to Doha on Saturday for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the Chinese Super League side announced on Thursday.

“According to plan, Bassogog will fly from Shanghai to Doha on November 12 to join up with his national team,” the Shanghai club said in a brief statement.

The 27-year-old striker scored five goals and made three assists in 22 appearances in the Chinese Super League this season.

Cameroon will face Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland in Group G at the FIFA World Cup.

Source: Xinhuanet

Cameroon left out long-serving centre back Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui from their squad for the World Cup in a shock omission as coach Rigobert Song named his 26-man selection for Qatar on Wednesday.

The coach also surprisingly included two home-based players — Souaibou Marou and Jerome Ngom — who had won their first caps just hours before in a friendly against Jamaica.

The team will be captained by Vincent Aboubakar, who competed as a teenager at the 2010 World Cup and again in Brazil in 2014 when the Indomitable Lions last appeared at the finals.

It will also be a third World Cup for defender Nicolas Nkoulou, 32, and Bayern Munich attacker Eric-Maxime Choupo Moting, who is 33-years-old.

Nkoulou made a comeback to the team in September after a five-year absence, having retired from the side after they won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Ngadeu was also a member of that team but had remained a regular for Cameroon since. He was omitted for the last round of friendly matches two months ago and left out again for the trip to Qatar.

Song gave no explanation for the axing of the 31-year-old Belgian-based centre back at a hastily arranged news conference on Wednesday, where reporters were given short notice of the intention to name the squad.

Song also included teenage goalkeeper Simon Ngapandouetnbu, who is on the books of Olympique de Marseille but yet to play a senior match. He is the only uncapped player in the squad.

Cameroon will play in an eighth World Cup — a record number of appearances for an African nation — and take on Switzerland, Serbia and Brazil in Group G, with their first game on Nov. 24.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy (Abha Club), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Olympique de Marseille), Andre Onana (Inter Milan)

Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Enzo Ebosse (Udinese), Collins Fai (Al Tai), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris Salonika), Tolo Nouhou (Seattle Sounders), Christopher Wooh (Stade Rennes)

Midfielders: Martin Hongla (Verona), Pierre Kunde (Olympiakos), Olivier Ntcham (Swansea City), Gael Ondoua (Hannover 96), Samuel Oum Gouet (Mechelen), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nassr), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua), Eric-Maxime Choupo Moting (Bayern Munich), Souaibou Marou (Coton Sport), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys Berne), Jerome Ngom (Colombe Dja), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys Berne), Karl Toko Ekambi (Olympique Lyonnais)

Culled from Reuters

The Indomitable Lions are expected to be the first African team to arrive Qatar, a spokesman for the Francophone dominated Cameroon Football Federation said today at the Nsimalen International airport.

Cameroon Concord News understands all 32 teams will be located in top class facilities in base camps throughout the Qatar.

Following the arrival of the Indomitable Lions, the best team in Africa, the rest of the teams will descend on Qatar and will check in at their respective Team Base Camp Hotels at least five days before their first matches. The World Cup will be played from November 20 to December 18.

The giants of Africa will begin their 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament with a soccer match against the Switzerland national football team on 23 November 2022 at Al Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah. 

As part of the unique features of the FIFA World Cup 2022, there is no requirement of domestic flights or long hours of travelling. That will mean all the teams will be using the same residence and training facilities throughout the tournament, with all the teams being given access to similar top-class facilities at Team Base Camps. The extremely compact nature of Qatar 2022 will see 24 out of the 32 teams based within a 10km radius of each other.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde with files