After the
enormous successes of the 80's generation (including the 1990 world cup),
Cameroon's football had been marred by administration problems and a decline
on all levels, facilities, youth teams etc. This development had been the
parallel to problems of Africa in general, had taken place despite the
success of individual players in Europe and had finally produced poor results
in all competitions.
But Cameroon are not
called 'escapologists' for nothing. Despite the 1998/2000 team could hardly
be already the fruit of more constructive policy, Cameroon rose from the
ashes to win the 2000 Nations
Cup in impressive manor. Later the same year they drew with France
1:1 in a rare and remarkable friendly at Paris.
This was the beginning
of the end of the story for success coach Pierre Lechantre and it appeared
another sample of self destruction to have begun.
Only days before Cameroons
Under 23 squad had won the Olympics
and coach Jean Paul Akono was now promoted to the national coach post only
to be replaced again some months later by Lechantre once more who was himself
fired again only short time later to become replaced by a placeholder for
the last World Cup qualifying matches. Obviously there was more behind
the scenes than only results as there were mutual allegations of corruption
among the coaching team.
Continuity even seems
not possible with a successful team and officials have to ask themselves
whether France are World champions who had a longterm patient build up
with Aimee Jaquet or some team which changes its policy every 12 months.
Anyway, Cameroons players
look lion strong and resilient enough to form a powerful team and with
German Winnie Schaefer a character has been found as coach who seems to
fit perfectly with the players.
After a rather disappointing
2001with the Confederations Cup failure Cameroon appear to be on course
again and start as favorites at Mali 2002.
But success has brought
some players new contracts at sophisticated clubs where some of them have
landed on the substitute bench, not at last caused by their departures
for national duties. In competing for places with many similar strong players,
returning tired from travelling to World Cup qualifiers every other weekend
can make the difference.
And Cameroon is facing
two opponents which they have just recently lost to: Togo (2000 last group
match) and the DR Congo (1998 quarter finals).
The team is jammed
with stars like Rigobert Song (now at Cologne), Geremi Njitap (Real Madrid),
Patrick Mboma (Parma), Lauren Etame Mayer (Arsenal London), or Samuel
Eto'o. Most impressive is the strength of the players in one-to-one
situations while a fluent one touch passing game is only seldom seen. In
2000 they were extremely dangerous with long throw-ins from both sides.
Also very remarkable
is strength and depth in goalkeeping. Veteran Jaques Songo'o has been champions
with Deportivo La Coruna and is Champions League tested (playes now atMetz,
France), Boukar Alioum is the regular number one and very calm and strong,
and third choice Carlos Karmeni is the wonderboy who, 16 years old, jinxed
world profile attackers in masses to win Olympic gold with Cameroon at
Sydney 2000. |
