AFCON 2023: Why Cameroon must do well in the land of the frenemies
Behind those social media banters and shadow – boxing, they’re two loving nations (Cameroon and Cote D’Ivoire) that simple cannot get enough of themselves.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon kick-start their AFCON 2023 campaign against Guinea this Monday, Jan. 15.
While the debate over which nation has the best style, food, dance, culture and swag may never be resolved, the argument over football (between Cameroon and Cote D’Ivoire) will be decided, at least for the time-being, on the pitch by February 11.
Eto’o or Drogba, Pokou or Milla
Cameroon and Cote D’Ivoire have birthed top footballers over the years, but when an argument stems in public spaces, it has to be between Eto’o and Drogba, or Pokou and Roger Milla.
4-time African player of the year, Samuel Eto’o is Africa’s most decorated player, while 2012 UCL winner Didier Drogba also holds impressive records; one of them is, Africa’s second lead goal scorer of the champions league, with 44 goals.
Milla holds the record of being the oldest footballer to score a goal in the FIFA World Cup, having scored at the age of 42 years and 39 days, and he inspired Cameroon to the quarter-finals of the 1990 world cup. Pokou, meanwhile was twice the highest goalscorer of the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring six goals in the 1968 tournament in Ethiopia and eight in the 1970 edition in Sudan, including five in one match against Ethiopia, which Ivory Coast won 6–1. With 14 total goals. He is also the tournament’s second highest overall goalscorer, behind Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, who eclipsed Pokou’s record in the 2008 ACN tournament.
AFCON History
A second-half penalty from Emmanuel Kunde settled the AFCON 1984 tie when Cameroon claimed its first of five titles the first time Cote D’Ivoire staged Africa’s showpiece.
Cameroon went on to win the 1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017 AFCON trophies. An argument Cameroon edges vis-a-vis Ivorians, with two AFCON trophies ( 1992-2015).
While the competition to find out who does better remains civil, there has been inter-marriage between stars of both countries that has paved the way for even more cordial relationships.
“Les Beaux frere”
President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o is married to Ivorian national, Georgette. They both have four children: Maelle, Étienne, Siena and Lynn. He married his longtime sweetheart on 6 July 2007, and they live together to this day.
Not just Eto’o solicited an Ivorian. Cameroonian Musician, Tenor was involved in a relationship with comedian Eunice Zunon, though that ended after a couple of years. This and many more, have led to the both countries referring to themselves as
”Les Beaux frere”.
Makossa / Mbole, Coupé-décalé/Zouglou
Cameroon and Cote D’Ivoire have different sounds they developed and popularized on the continent. For Cameroon, Makossa in the 70s and most recently, the Mbole is being played on the streets of Cote D’Ivoire. The other way round, Zouglou and Coupé-décalé is danced and enjoyed by thousands of Cameroonians. In fact, late Ivorian music star, Ange Didier, who was known as DJ Arafat, sold out numerous concerts in Cameroon before his passing.
Cuisine
Ivorian cuisine is diverse, often very spicy and rich, and well worth becoming more familiar with. Attiéké, Garba and Kedjenou are national dishes in Cote D’Ivoire.
In Cameroon, the cuisine has a peculiarity where it identifies with the whole continent and beyond. The cuisine is predominantly African but peppered with German, French, and British influences. Staple foods are region dependent. However, some ingredients such as corn, millet, cassava, groundnuts (peanuts), potatoes, plantains, yams, and rice form the foundation of dishes prepared and consumed all over the country.
In order for Cote D’Ivoire and Cameroon to meet, they must first get past tricky group A and C. Cameroon is housed alongside: Guinea, Gambia and Senegal, while Cote D’Ivoire is lodged alongside: Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Equatorial. Whatever happens, bragging rights is at stake.
