AFCON 2023 Q: Analysis Of Rigobert Song’s 34-Man Provisional Squad For Double Header Against Namibia

Coach Rigobert has pre-selected a list of 34 Lions in view of the 3rd and 4th match days of the 2023 TotalEnergies AFCON qualifiers set to take place in a home-and-away round-robin format, later this March.

Cameroon’s home and away tie against Namibia will be the first games of the indomitable Lions post the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where the men of coach Rigobert Song resigned from group E with four points.

It is equally going to be the first time in two years that Cameroon go into competitive games without goalkeeper Andre Onana who called time on his international career after petit spats with gaffer, Rigobert Song in the course of last year’s World Cup.

Benefitting from Onana’s retirement is CHAN star Marcelin Mbahbi who plays for local side Gazelle FA. The latter has impressed with fine performances upon resumption of the MTN Elite One, keeping three clean sheets.

Another toss of the coin in the goalkeeping compartment is Simon Omossola, who is making his return after the 2021 AFCON. Omossola is yet to kick-start his journey with new club St. Eloi after he left Vita Club, but the sweeper is one who has previously worked with Song in the U23 category. Simon Ngapandepu keeps his place in the ranks of goalkeepers. The teenager was one of three goalies for team Cameroon in the World Cup.

Coach Rigobert Song has given a chance to newbies in defense. Goalscoring right back Malcom Bokele who has netted two times this season with FC Bordeaux has been rewarded for a wonderful campaign thus far.

Former U20 Lion and son to indomitable Lions legend Bill Tchato, Enzo, has been pre-selected for a second time. Boyomo Flavien and Darling Yongwa are other rookies in the defense who ply in the Ligue 2, just like Ajaccio’s Oumar Gonzalez.

Harold Mokoudi makes his way back after that AFCON 2021 semi final penalty miss against Egypt with fine displays for AEK Athens, who rank second in the Greek Super league. Regulars: Fai Collins, Nohou Tolo, Jean Charles Castelletto keep their places. Left back Enzo Ebosse raised the red flag and wasn’t pre-selected due to injury whilst playing for Udinise. There is no glimpse yet of Michael Ngadeu, who was surprisingly denied a world cup berth last year despite having played the most minutes for club-side KAA Gent.

In the middle of park, one name stands out, and that is former U17 Lion Carlos Baleba who has forced his way into the Lille senior team, aged 19.

Former Tolouse midfeilder Steve Mvoue whose current team RFC Seriang are struggling in the Belgian top-flight comes back to the fray having netted a goal in 16 appearances.

Kayserispor midfeilder Olivier Kemen has been compensated after 4 goals and 3 assists in the 26-year-old’s breakthrough season.

Njongoue Benjamin Elliott with the Chelsea reserves has been handed a first call up with the senior men’s national team. The latter is a basket of potential who, just like Baleba, is one for the future.

In the forward role, Rigobert Song has stuck to the core. Recently transferred Beşiktaş forward and indomitable Lions captain Vincent Aboubakar leads the attack.

‘on fire’ Bayern forward Choupo Moting, who has scored 16 goals and dished out 4 assists this season ticks the box. Toko Ekambi who is on loan to Rennes from Lyon keeps his place as well after his recent form of two goals in the Europa league.

Daniel Namaso of FC Porto is an interesting youngster who has 3 goals in 12 games, and finds himself in good company alongside 5-goal premier league star Bryan Mbeumo.

Jerome Ngom has been trusted again after exciting performances at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) earlier this year, which earned him a move to SK Beveren. Returning on the list is equally Stephane Bahoken who has netted four times and dished out two assists this season.

Ganago, Ngamaleu and Nkoudo complete the list of 9 forwards.

Complete list

Goalkeepers

Devis Epassy (Abha Club)
Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille)
Simon Omossola(Saint Eloi)
Marcelin Mbahbi (Gazelle FA)

Defenders

Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes)
Enzo Tchato (Montpellier)
Collins Fai (Al Tai)
Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris Salonika)
Tolo Nouhou (Seattle Sounders)
Christopher Wooh (Stade Rennes)
Oumar Gonzalez (AC Ajaccio)
Boyomo Flavien (Albecette Balopie)
Harold Mokoudi (AEK Athens)
Malcom Bokele (Bordeaux)

Midfielders

Martin Hongla (Real Valladolid)
Pierre Kunde (Bochum)
Olivier Kemen (Kayserispor)
Jean Onana (RC Lens)
Steve Mvoue (RSC Seriang)
Njongoue Benjamin Elliott (Chelsea)
Carlos Baleba (Lille OSC)
Olivier Ntcham (Swansea City)
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)

Forwards

Vincent Aboubakar (Beşiktaş)
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich)
Bahoken Stephane
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
Daniel Namaso (FC Porto)
Ngom Mbekeli (SK Beveren)
Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow)
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas)
Karl Toko Ekambi (Olympique Lyonnais)

Cameroon is in group C consisting of Kenya, Namibia and Burundi. However, on 23 May 2022, CAF announced that Kenya was disqualified from the qualifiers due to the suspension of the Football Kenya Federation by FIFA. The group is hereby chiselled to three teams, with Cameroon set to take on Namibia on the 23rd and 28th of this month.