The Cameroon Football Federation(Fecafoot) has programmed two friendly matches for the Indomitable lions in September, as part of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, later this year.
Coach Rigobert Song and his charges will take on Uzbekistan on September 23rd and then face off against South Korea on September 27th.
The Indomitable lions go into these two games as the fifth-best team on the continent following the latest FIFA Rankings for August. The five-time African champions might not have played any match in August, but have lost just one game in their last four outings, and that was against Algeria in the first leg of the World Cup playoffs in March.
Zoom Into Uzbekistan and South Korea
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan known as the White Wolves Turanians is ranked 77th by FIFA and has never been to the World Cup. Their best achievement came when they finished fourth in the 2011 Asian Cup. Their largest win came in 1998 when they won 15-0 against Mongolia, while their heaviest defeat was in 2002 when they lost 8-1 to Japan. Their star man is AS attacker Eldor Shomurodov who cost over 17 million euros from Genoa last summer.
South Korea
South Korea is ranked 28th in the Fifa rankings. The Taegeuk (Tigers) are no stranger to the world cup as they have made 11 appearances at the World Cup, finishing fourth in 2002. They have won the Asian Cup twice. Their biggest win is 16-0 against Nepal in 2003, while their biggest defeat was when they lost 12-0 to Sweden in 1948. Their star man is Tottenham forward Son Heung-Min who was joined top scorer in the Premier League last term.
Cameroon’s Road to Qatar.
Cameroon under Antonio Conceicao began their 2022 World Cup journey with a 2-0 win over Malawi in September 2021. On match day two, the lions fell short of ideas to Cote D’ voire following a 2-1 defeat. That was the lions’ only defeat in the group as they recorded four wins in a roll to top their group ahead of rivals Ivory Coast.
Facing Algeria in the playoffs was indeed a tough task for the lions as head coach Antonio Conceicao was replaced by Rigobert Song in February, barely one month before the clash. Cameroon lost the first leg tie at the Japoma Sports Complex by a goal to nil and that was Cameroon’s first home defeat at home for close to 22 years.
The return leg was going to be a huge mountain to climb for Rigobert Song and his charges, but the never say die attitude became part of the lions. The lions were more determined than ever, as Karl Toko’s 120-minute strike in extra time ensured Cameroon’s qualification to the World Cup. This is Cameroon’s eighth record World Cup appearance, more than any other African Nation.
Cameroon is in group G alongside record winners Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia.
The lions play their first match on November 24, against Switzerland.
