Onana, Anguissa headline Cameroon’s AFCON list of 27
Coach Rigobert Song has put out his list of 27 players ahead of the TotalEnergies AFCON 2023, made up of loads of surprises.
Manchester United’s Andre Onana leads the line of 4 shot-stopper’s that includes regular back-ups: Epassy Devis, Simon Ngapandouetnpu and Fabris Ondoa.
Since making a U-turn on his decision to retire from international football, Onana has picked up his near-natural position as first choice.
In defense, Collins Fai of Serbian side Radnicki NIS will not be participating in an AFCON tournament for the first time in four editions.
Fai was part of the AFCON winning squad in 2017, and in 2021, ended up leading the assist chart with 3 assists underway to Cameroon’s third place finish.
Preferred in the right back position is Stoke city’s high-flyer, Tchamadeu Junior, who has scooped home two man of the match awards in the last two weeks. Enzo Tchato pops up as another option at right back. However, Jean Charles Casteletto has often been used as an auxiliary full-back by Rigobert Song in recent games played, and that could be the case at the AFCON.
Malcolm Bokele of Bordeaux is equally versatile and just like Casteletto, he can be deployed as a center half or right back.
Harold Moukoudi will now play successive AFCON finals after 2021. Oumar Gonzalez of Al Raed has shown enough over the past months to retain his place at the center of defense.
Seattle Sounders FC left back Nouhou Tolo will have Darling Yongwa as a double in that position. Yongwa has impressed for French Ligue 1 Lorient. In 13 games he has assisted one time, and scored once.
In the midfeild, Rigobert Song decided to do without Hongla Martin, Samuel Oum and Kunde Malong, who all participated in the 2021 AFCON. Gael Ondoua equally misses out after having made the World Cup last year.
Swansea city’s Olivier Ntcham, Yvan Neyou and Olivier Kemen get the nod in the midfeild alongside Napoli’s Zambo Anguissa.
Elliot Benjamin of Reading FC and Nathan Douala of local side Victoria United completes the middle of the park.
In attack, Choupo-Moting who has had little or no game time at Bayern Munich this season, misses out on the list.
Njie Clinton will be present at his fourth AFCON since 2017, alongside Vincent Aboubakar and Toko Ekambi.
George Nkoudou gets the nod having scored a staggering 14 goals in 17 matches for Damac FC in the Saudi pro league. No Moumi Ngamaleu or Bryan Mbuemo (injured).
Frank Magri, Regis Mughe and Faris Moumbagna will all be taking part in their first AFCON finals.
A sub plot in the big story is the inclusion of 7-goal Dynamo poacher, Leonel Ateba, who is the second home-based player called up in the list of 27.
Cameroon will be sent off from Yaounde tomorrow Friday, December 29th for a camp in Saudi Arabia.
The Indomitable Lions will face Zambia on January 9 before heading to Cote D’Ivoire, where an opening game against Guinea will kick-start the indomitable Lions’ campaign in group C, consisted of rivals Senegal, Guinea and the Gambia.
