Cameroon national football team

The Cameroon national football team, (French: Équipe nationale du camerounaise de football) represents Cameroon in men's international football and It is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football. The team has qualified seven times for the FIFA World Cup, more than any other African team (in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014). However, the team has only made it once out of the group stage. They were the first African team to reach the quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup in 1990, losing to England in extra time. They have also won five Africa Cup of Nations and Olympic gold in 2000. The team represents Cameroon both in FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Cameroon women's national football team.
Cameroon
Nickname(s) Les Lions Indomptables
(The Indomitable Lions)
AssociationFédération Camerounaise de Football
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationUNIFFAC
(Central Africa)
Head coachToni Conceição
CaptainJean-Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
Most capsRigobert Song (137)
Top scorerSamuel Eto'o (56)[1]
Home stadiumStade Ahmadou Ahidjo
FIFA codeCMR
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 53 (16 July 2020)[2]
Highest11 (November 2006 – January 2007, November – December 2009)
Lowest79 (February – March 2013)
First international
 Belgian Congo 3–2 French Cameroon
(Belgian Congo; September 1956)
Biggest win
 Cameroon 9–0 Chad 
(Kinshasa, Congo Kinshasa; 7 April 1965)
Biggest defeat
 Norway 6–1 Cameroon 
(Oslo, Norway; 31 October 1990)
 Russia 6–1 Cameroon 
(Palo Alto, California, USA; 28 June 1994)
 Costa Rica 5–0 Cameroon 
(San José, Costa Rica; 9 March 1997)
World Cup
Appearances7 (first in 1982)
Best resultQuarter-finals, 1990
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances19 (first in 1970)
Best resultChampions, 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
African Nations Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2016)
Best resultQuarter-finals, 2016
Confederations Cup
Appearances3 (first in 2001)
Best resultSecond place, 2003

History

First games

Cameroon played its first match against Belgian Congo in 1956, losing 3–2. They first qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 1970, but were knocked out in the first round. Two years later, as host nation, the Indomitable Lions finished third after being knocked out by their neighbours and future champions Congo in the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations. They would not qualify for the competition for another ten years.

FIFA 1982 World Cup – the first time

Cameroon qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 1982. With the increase of 16 to 24 teams Cameroon qualified along with Algeria to represent Africa in Spain. Cameroon was drawn into Group 1 with eventual winners Italy, Poland, and Peru. In their first game, Cameroon faced Peru and drew 0–0. They then had a second goalless draw with Poland before a surprise 1–1 draw with Italy. Despite being unbeaten they failed to qualify for the second round.

African Nations, 1984

Two years later, Cameroon qualified for the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Ivory Coast. They finished second in their first-round group before beating Algeria on penalties in the semi-final. In the final, Cameroon beat Nigeria 3–1 with goals from René N'Djeya, Théophile Abega and Ernest Ebongué to become champions of Africa for the first time.

FIFA 1990 World Cup – Quarter Finals
Cameroon defeated Argentina in the first game of the 1990 World Cup

Cameroon qualified for the 1990 World Cup by surpassing Nigeria and beating Tunisia in the final round playoff. In the final tournament, Cameroon were drawn into Group B with Argentina, Romania and the Soviet Union. Cameroon defeated defending champions Argentina in the opening game 1–0 with a goal scored by François Omam-Biyik. Cameroon later defeated Romania 2–1 and lost to the Soviet Union 0–4, becoming the first side to top a World Cup Finals group with a negative goal difference. In the second round, Cameroon defeated Colombia 2–1 with the 38-year-old Roger Milla scoring two goals in the extra time.

In the quarter-finals, Cameroon faced England. After 25 minutes, England's David Platt scored for England, while in the second-half, Cameroon came back with a 61st-minute penalty from Emmanuel Kundé and took the lead with Eugène Ekéké on 65 minutes. England, however, equalized in the 83rd minute with a penalty from Gary Lineker, while Lineker again found the net via a 105th-minute penalty to make the eventual scoreline 3–2 for England. The team was coached by Russian manager and former player Valeri Nepomniachi.

1994 World Cup

The 1994 World Cup in the United States saw the adjustment of representation for three African teams qualify. Cameroon qualified with Nigeria and Morocco. In the final tournament, Cameroon were drawn into Group B with Sweden, Brazil and Russia. After a 2–2 draw against Sweden, Cameroon were determined to make an impact. However, a 3–0 loss to Brazil and a heavy 6–1 loss to Russia knocked them out. In their last game against Russia, the then 42-year-old Roger Milla became the oldest player to play and score in a World Cup finals match. The team was coached by French-born Henri Michel.

1998 World Cup

The 1998 World Cup in France saw the increase of 24 to 32 teams. Cameroon qualified alongside four other African countries. After qualifying as expected, Cameroon were drawn into Group B with Italy, Chile and Austria. Despite drawing with Chile and Austria, a 3–0 defeat to Italy saw Cameroon finish bottom of the group, and they were eliminated as a result. It was an unfortunate elimination, since Cameroon had led Austria 1–0 until the 90th minute, and had two goals dubiously ruled out in a 1–1 draw with Chile. Cameroon had three players sent off in the course of the tournament, more than any other team, despite only playing three games out of a possible seven. They also had the highest card count per game of any team, collecting an average of four bookings in each match they played.[3] It was also during this tournament that a certain Samuel Eto'o was exposed to Cameroonians. He was the youngest player of the tournament alongside Michael Owen of England. The team was coached by French-born Claude Le Roy.

2002 FIFA World Cup

Cameroon qualified for the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan, clinching first place in their group which included Angola, Zambia and Togo. Cameroon were drawn into Group E alongside Germany, the Republic of Ireland and Saudi Arabia. Cameroon started with a 1–1 draw with Ireland after giving up the lead and later defeated Saudi Arabia 1–0. In their last game, Cameroon were defeated 2–0 by Germany and were narrowly eliminated by the Irish, who had not lost a game.

The death of a team member

In the 72nd minute of the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final between Cameroon and Colombia, midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed; he was pronounced dead several hours later. In the final against France, Cameroon wore shirts embroidered with Foé's name and dates of birth and death.

Missing out on Germany 2006

In the 2006 World Cup qualifying round, Cameroon were drawn into Group 3 with the Ivory Coast, Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Benin. Cameroon led the group for most of the time until their final game, when Pierre Womé failed to convert a late penalty. On 8 October 2005, Cameroon drew with Egypt 1–1 while the Ivory Coast defeated Sudan 3–1, results which prevented Cameroon from qualifying to the World Cup.

2010 World Cup qualification

In Cameroon's 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, the team was grouped with Gabon, Togo and Morocco. After a slow start in their campaign with a loss to Togo, the coach of Cameroon, Otto Pfister, resigned. Frenchman Paul Le Guen was appointed as the new coach after a draw against Morocco. Le Guen's appointment caused an uprise in Cameroon's spirits as they earned a win against Gabon in Libreville, followed by another win against the Panthers four days later in Yaoundé. One month later, they defeated Togo in Yaoundé by three goals. On 14 November 2009, Cameroon defeated the Atlas Lions of Morocco 2–0 in Fez in their last match of their campaign. Gabon was also defeated by Togo 1–0 in Lomé. Both results caused Cameroon to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals, held in South Africa.[4]

The Indomitable Lions were the first team to be mathematically eliminated in the 2010 World Cup, going out in their second group match to Denmark after losing 1–2, preceded by a 0–1 defeat to Japan.

Controversy about sleeveless and one-piece kits

Cameroon used sleeveless Puma shirts at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. FIFA, however, did not allow Cameroon to use the same kits as at the 2002 World Cup, and black sleeves were added to the shirts.[5] The 2004 African Cup of Nations witnessed Cameroon again run into controversy regarding their kits. Puma had designed a one-piece kit for the Cameroon team which FIFA declared illegal, stating that the kits must have separate shirts and shorts. FIFA then imposed fines on Cameroon and deducted six points from their qualifying campaign. Puma argued that a two-piece kit is not stated as a requirement in the FIFA laws of the game. Puma, however, lost the case in court, and Cameroon were forced to wear two-piece kits, but FIFA subsequently restored the six qualifying points to Cameroon.

2003 Confederations Cup Qualifiers

Cameroon started the 2002 African Cup of Nations competition with a 1–0 win over DR Congo. That was followed by another 1–0 win against Ivory Coast, and a comfortable 3–0 win against Togo. These results led Cameroon to qualify from the group stage to the quarter-finals as their group's winner. In the Knockout stage, Cameroon met Egypt in a close match that they won 1–0 by M'Boma's goal in the 62nd minute of the game. In the Semi-finals, Cameroon met the hosts Mali and won the match 3–0 to qualify to the final.

On 13 February 2002, and after a close match, Cameroon won its fourth African Cup of Nations (repeating as champions), by beating Senegal 3–2 in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw to qualify for the 2003 Confederations Cup in France.[6]

2017 Confederations Cup Qualifiers

Cameroon started the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations competition with a 1–1 draw to Burkina Faso. That was followed by a 2–1 win against Guinea-Bissau, and an unconvincing goalless draw against the hosts Gabon. These results were enough for Cameroon to qualify from the group stage to the quarter-finals, where they met Senegal in a close match that Cameroon won 5–4 in a penalty shootout after it had ended 0–0 after extra time. In the Semi-finals, Cameroon met Ghana and won the match 2–0 to qualify to the final.

On 5 February 2017, and after a close match, Cameroon won the African Cup of Nations for the fifth time after defeating seven-time champions Egypt 2–1 in the final,[7] by Vincent Aboubakar's late goal in the 89th minute of the match.[8] As champions, Cameroon qualified for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.

Kits and crests

The Cameroon national football team's tradition color is green.

Cameroon national football team had long-term partnership with Puma[9]

Kit suppliers
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Kit supplier Period Notes
Le Coq Sportif 1982–1987
Adidas 1988–1993
Mitre 1993–1995
Lotto 1995–1996
Nike 1996
Puma 1997–2018
Le Coq Sportif 2019–present

Competitive record
Main article: Cameroon at the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Qualifying
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 Did Not Enter Did Not Enter
1934
1938
1950
1954
1958
1962
1966 Withdrew Withdrew
1970 Did Not Qualify 2 0 1 1 3 4
1974 3 1 1 1 1 3
1978 2 0 1 1 2 4
1982 Group Stage 17th 3 0 3 0 1 1 8 5 1 2 16 5
1986 Did Not Qualify 2 0 1 1 2 5
1990 Quarter Finals 7th 5 3 0 2 7 9 8 6 1 1 12 6
1994 Group stage 22nd 3 0 1 2 3 11 8 5 2 1 14 4
1998 25th 3 0 2 1 2 5 6 4 2 0 10 4
2002 20th 3 1 1 1 2 3 10 8 1 1 20 4
2006 Did Not Qualify 10 6 3 1 18 10
2010 Group Stage 31st 3 0 0 3 2 5 12 9 2 1 23 4
2014 32nd 3 0 0 3 1 9 8 5 2 1 12 4
2018 Did Not Qualify 8 2 5 1 10 9
2022 To be determined
2026
Total Quarter-finals 7/21 23 4 7 12 18 43 87 51 23 13 143 65

FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad
1992 Did not qualify
1995
1997
1999
2001 Group stage 6th 3 1 0 2 2 4 Squad
2003 Runners-up 2nd 5 3 1 1 3 1 Squad
2005 Did not qualify
2009
2013
2017 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 2 6 Squad
Total Runners-up 3/10 11 4 2 5 7 11 -

Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record
Host nation(s) / Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1957Part of  France
1959
1962Not affiliated to CAF
1963
1965Did not enter
1968Did not qualify
1970Group stage5th320175
1972Third place3rd5311105
1974Did not qualify
1976
1978
1980
1982Group stage5th303011
1984Champions1st531193
1986Runners-up2nd532085
1988Champions1st532041
1990Group stage5th310223
1992Fourth place4th522143
1994Did not qualify
1996Group stage9th311157
1998Quarter-finals8th421154
2000Champions1st6321115
2002Champions1st651090
2004Quarter-finals6th412176
20065th431082
2008Runners-up2nd6402148
2010Quarter-finals7th411268
2012Did not qualify
2013
2015Group stage13th302123
2017Champions1st633073
2019Round of 1613th412143
2021Qualified as host
2023To be determined
2025
Total5 Titles19/328441271612375
*Denotes draws including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
**Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.


African Nations Championship
Appearances: 3
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
2009Did not qualify
2011Quarter-finals5th431050
2014Did not qualify
2016Quarter-finals5th421144
2018Group stage12th301213
2020Qualified as hosts
2022To be determined
TotalQuarter-finals3/511533107

Summer Olympics
Olympic Games Record
Year Result Position GP W D* L GS GA
1900
to
1960		Did not enter
1964
to
1972		Did not qualify
1976Did not enter
1980Did not qualify
1984Round 111th310235
1988Did not qualify
1992–present See Cameroon national under-23 football team
TotalRound 11/19310235
Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since 1992.

African Games
Football at the African Games has been an under-23 tournament since 1991.
See also: Cameroon national under-23 football team
African Games Record
Year Result GP W D L GS GA
1965-000000
1973-000000
1978-000000
1987-000000
1991–present See Cameroon national under-23 football team
Total4/4000000

Results and fixtures
Main article: Cameroon national football team results (2020–present)

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Lose

2019
25 June 2019 2019 AFCONCameroon 2–0 Guinea-BissauIsmailia, Egypt
19:00 (CAT)
Report Stadium: Ismailia Stadium
Attendance: 5,983
Referee: Noureddine El Jaafari (Morocco)
29 June 2019 2019 AFCONCameroon 0–0 GhanaIsmailia, Egypt
19:00 (CAT) Report Stadium: Ismailia Stadium
Attendance: 16,724
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)
2 July 2019 2019 AFCONBenin 0–0 CameroonIsmailia, Egypt
18:00 (CAT) Report Stadium: Ismailia Stadium
Referee: Sadok Selmi (Tunisia)
6 July 2019 2019 AFCONNigeria 3–2 CameroonAlexandria, Egypt
18:00 (CAT)
Report
Stadium: Alexandria Stadium
Referee: Joshua Bondo (Botswana)
12 October 2019 FriendlyTunisia 0–0 CameroonRadès, Tunisia
17:00 (UTC±0) Report Stadium: Stade Olympique de Radès
Referee: Nabil Boukhalfa (Algeria)
13 November 2019 2021 AFCONQCameroon 0–0 Cape VerdeYaoundé, Cameroon
17:00 UTC+1 Stadium: Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo
17 November 2019 2021 AFCONQRwanda 0–1 CameroonKigali, Rwanda
18:00 UTC+2
  • Ngamaleu  71'
 Stadium: Stade Régional Nyamirambo

Players

Current squad
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Fabrice Ondoa (1995-12-24) 24 December 1995 43 0 Oostende
23 1GK André Onana (1996-04-02) 2 April 1996 16 0 Ajax
16 1GK Haschou Kerrido (1994-06-02) 2 June 1994 0 0 CI Kamsar
6 2DF Ambroise Oyongo (1991-06-22) 22 June 1991 46 2 Montpellier
5 2DF Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (1990-11-23) 23 November 1990 34 2 Gent
19 2DF Collins Fai (1992-11-23) 23 November 1992 33 0 Standard Liège
— 2DF Allan Nyom (1988-05-10) 10 May 1988 18 0 Getafe
12 2DF Joyskim Dawa (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 6 0 Mariupol
22 2DF Jérôme Onguéné (1997-12-22) 22 December 1997 5 0 Red Bull Salzburg
21 2DF Jean-Charles Castelletto (1995-01-26) 26 January 1995 1 0 Brest
11 3MF Christian Bassogog (1995-10-18) 18 October 1995 30 5 Henan Jianye
17 3MF Arnaud Djoum (1989-05-02) 2 May 1989 25 0 Al-Raed
8 3MF André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (1995-11-16) 16 November 1995 24 2 Fulham
3 3MF Moumi Ngamaleu (1994-07-09) 9 July 1994 19 3 Young Boys
15 3MF Pierre Kunde (1995-07-26) 26 July 1995 14 0 Mainz 05
— 3MF Franck-Yves Bambock (1995-04-07) 7 April 1995 0 0 Marítimo
10 4FW Vincent Aboubakar (1992-01-22) 22 January 1992 67 20 Porto
13 4FW Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (1989-03-23) 23 March 1989 55 15 Paris Saint-Germain
7 4FW Karl Toko Ekambi (1992-09-14) 14 September 1992 30 3 Lyon
20 4FW Fabrice Olinga (1996-05-12) 12 May 1996 19 1 Mouscron
9 4FW Ignatius Ganago (1999-02-16) 16 February 1999 3 0 Nice
— 4FW Jean-Pierre Nsame (1993-05-01) 1 May 1993 2 0 Young Boys
14 4FW Didier Lamkel Zé (1996-09-17) 17 September 1996 1 0 Antwerp

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Simon Omossola (1998-05-05) 5 May 1998 1 0 Coton Sport v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
DF Gaëtan Bong (1988-04-25) 25 April 1988 17 0 Nottingham Forest v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
DF Félix Eboa Eboa (1997-04-19) 19 April 1997 1 0 Guingamp v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
DF Harold Moukoudi (1997-11-27) 27 November 1997 1 0 Middlesbrough v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
DF Tristan Dingomé (1991-02-17) 17 February 1991 0 0 Reims v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019 INJ
MF Edgar Salli (1992-08-17) 17 August 1992 39 4 Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
MF Paul-Georges Ntep (1992-07-29) 29 July 1992 4 1 Guingamp v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
MF Jeando Fuchs (1997-10-11) 11 October 1997 2 0 Alavés v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
MF Wilfrid Kaptoum (1996-07-07) 7 July 1996 0 0 Almería v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019
FW Stéphane Bahoken (1992-05-28) 28 May 1992 10 3 Angers v.  Tunisia, 12 October 2019

INJ = Withdrew from the squad due to injury
SUS = Serving suspension
PRE = Preliminary squad / standby
RET = Retired from international football
WD = Withdrew from the squad

Records
As of 13 November 2019
Players in bold text are still active with Cameroon.

Managers
Dates Name
1960–1965 technical committee
1965–1970 Dominique Colonna
1970 Raymond Fobete
1970–1973 Peter Schnittger
1973–1975 Vladimir Beara
1976–1979 Ivan Ridanović
1980–1982 Branko Žutić
1982 Jean Vincent
1982–1984 Radivoje Ognjanović
1985–1988 Claude Le Roy
1988–1990 Valery Nepomnyashchy
1990–1993 Philippe Redon
1993–1994 Jean Manga-Onguéné
Dates Name
1994 Léonard Nseké
1994 Henri Michel
1994–1996 Jules Nyongha
1996–1997 Henri Depireux
1997–1998 Jean Manga-Onguéné
1998 Claude Le Roy
1998–2001 Pierre Lechantre
2001 Robert Corfou
2001 Jean-Paul Akono
2001–2004 Winfried Schäfer
2004–2006 Artur Jorge
2006–2007 Arie Haan
2007 Jules Nyongha
Dates Name
2007–2009 Otto Pfister
2009 Thomas N'Kono
2009–2010 Paul Le Guen
2010–2011 Javier Clemente
2011–2012 Denis Lavagne
2012–2013 Jean-Paul Akono
2013–2015 Volker Finke
2015–2016 Alexandre Belinga
2016–2017 Hugo Broos
2017–2018 Rigobert Song
2018–2019 Clarence Seedorf[13]
2019–present Toni Conceição[14]

Honours
Quarter-Final (1): 1990
Winners (5): 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, 2017
Runners-up (1): 2003
Winners (1): 2000
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See also

References
  1. "9 Samuel ETOO". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  2. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  3. "Top Cards – France 1998". fifa.com. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  4. "Indomitable Lions roar through to record sixth finals". ESPN. 2009-11-14. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
  5. "Fifa bans Cameroon shirts". BBC Sport. 2002-03-09. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  6. "FIFA Confederations Cup France 2003". FIFA.com. 18 June 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  7. "Africa Cup of Nations 2017: Cameroon 2-1 Egypt". BBC Sport. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  8. "Afcon 2017: Cameroon's Aboubakar wins final with late goal against Egypt". The Guardian. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  9. PUMA EXTENDS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH CAMEROON FOOTBALL FEDERATION
  10. "LISTE DES LIONS INDOMPTABLES CONVOQUÉS POUR LES MATCHS CAMEROUN Vs CAP VERT & RWANDA Vs CAMEROUN DU 13 ET 17 NOVEMBRE 2019" (in French). fecafoot-officiel.com. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  11. Cameroon
  12. Mamrud, Roberto. "Cameroon – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  13. "Cameroon appoint Seedorf & Kluivert as deal for Eriksson falls through". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  14. "Cameroon appoint Toni Conceicao as new head coach". kingfut.com. 21 September 2019.
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