Cameroon's Indomitable Lions
June 6, 2014
Brazil 2014 marks the seventh time that Cameroon's Indomitable Lions are taking part in a World Cup tournament. They had a tough time qualifying and have failed to shine on the international stage for some time, leading their fans to wonder whether they have what it takes to make it into the second round. Back in 1990 the team wowed fans throughout Africa and the whole world by getting to the quarter finals in Italy. They only missed the semis after losing to England in extra time. Back then they were undeniably Africa's biggest soccer power.
However, in the run-up to Brazil 2014, many Cameroonians seem to have lost faith in their soccer squad. There are few signs in the capital Yaounde that the country is gearing up for something really big. It's a far cry from the past when all eyes were on the Lions. Sportswear retailer Emmanuel Kandi says it's time to stop hoping for a miracle. It's good preparation that makes the difference. "We Cameroonians always rely on hope and we are never prepared for big competitions," he told DW's correspondent in Yaounde.
In 2010 the team lost all their group matches during the World Cup in South Africa. Last year, world football body FIFA briefly suspended Cameroon, saying the government had interfered in the running of the national football association. University lecturer Soule Nchotou thinks Cameroon would be well advised to leave FIFA, put its soccer house in order and then rejoin. " If we want to go on a safari, let us go on the safari to Brazil. But don't expect any good results. Please pull out of FIFA, organise Cameroon football and then you go back to FIFA and you will make a team," he said.
Lions 'know what we have to do'
But it's not all doom and gloom. There are some Cameroonians who still have faith in their national team. For example, local material promotion dealer Njobatir Joseph. He has this message for the skeptics: "That is a team that always perform very well when people least expect it of them. I think we can go above the first round." Joseph is pinning his hopes on newcomers to the squad. "We have some very smart attackers who can create a lot of surprises."
The players have not only been concentrating on getting into top shape physically. There have also been media reports of differences between players and management over how much players will get for playing in Brazil. Computer software expert Nelson Tawe says this shouldn't be allowed to affect the Lions' performance. "If the management of the team is smart, they should be able to handle financial issues before the team actually goes to work. We have suffered for long enough and Cameroonians will not want to see the Lions go down the drain or get kicked out in the first round."
The players themselves say they are confident they can put on a good showing in Brazil. Striker Pierre Achille Webo says there is a good atmosphere in the team.
"We should be realistic. It is our first match against Mexico that will determine our stay in the competition. We hope to begin well but the most important thing is the state of mind of each and every player. We know what we have to do and we are concentrating to avoid the errors of the last World Cup."
Success with German coach
Cameroon's coach is 66-year-old Volker Finke from Germany. He's been in charge of the team since May 2013 and is the seventh coach in only four years. He's upbeat about the team's chances - not least because if they do well, he will be able to keep his job. Finke was named Cameroon's Personality of the Year in 2013 for qualifying the Lions for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
"We work together and there is an atmosphere of mutual respect. I have not seen any players who are jealous of their colleagues, " Finke said, adding that the Lions have a surprise ready for their fans. "They will see their team 100 percent committed and active."
Supporters got a foretaste of this in a friendly against Germany played in early June. The Lions showed no respect for their hosts and the first goal of the match came from Samuel Eto'o in the second half. The final score was 2-2 with the second Lions' goal hammered in by Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting.
So watch out Croatia, Mexico and Brazil! The Indomitable Lions may be the underdogs on paper but they are hungry for goals and in good mental and physical shape.