U23 AFCON Q: Mughe, Ambina, Mvoue & Yahaya Called To Strengthen Feutchine’s Team Ahead Of Gabon Clash

A group of 17 expatriates have been selected by U23 Lions Coach Guy Feutchine in view of Cameroon’s double confrontation in the last round of the AFCON U23 qualifiers playoffs .

Coach Guy Feutchine summoned the foreign legion for the double-header against Gabon on March 25 and 28 in Franceville and Yaounde respectively.

Simon Ngapandouetnbu who was at the world cup with the senior team makes the cut after he was left out of the indomitable Lions final list for the AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

Captain of the category – Blondon Meyapya has equally been given the nod. He was skipper at the U20 category in 2021 and has since then carried the baton of command to the U23s. Saint Etienne’s Bryan Djille as well is one of the players who played the U20 AFCON in Mauritania, and continues his progress in this category.

The midfeild is the strongest unit of foreign based players called up with the likes of established Cape Town City midfeilder Fidel Brice Ambina. 2019 U17 AFCON winning captain Steve Mvoue is included in the U23 category for the very first time. Carl Etta Eyong, William Esseme and Daniel Dongmo are other lads called up in the mid.

Turkish based Abdoulaye Yahaya who equally played with the U20s in 2021 makes his return to the team. Son to FECAFOOT boss, Etienne Eto’o who has had a good start of life at Plobense, netting four goals already, leads the attack. Former EFBC captain Regis Mughe now of Marseille, arrives after he scored a cup goal for Marseille against Annecy a fortnight ago.

Since January 26, 25 players in the category have been in camp at the CAF Excellence center in Mbankomo. Coach Guy Feutchine observed players from Elite One and Two clubs, most of them new to the national team. Only four of them have in the past had experience in the Olympic Lions.

Complete list

Goalkeepers

Simon Ngapandepu (OM)
Wilfred Bedfian (AG Caen)

Defenders

Kevin Keben (Tolouse)
Staphane Paul Keller (Desportivo Alaves)
Blondon Meyapya (Red Star)
Jackson Tchatchoua (Royal Charleroi)
Bryan Djille (AS Saint Etienne)

Midfeilders

Fidele Ambina (Cape Town City FC)
Daniel Dongmo ( ESTAC Troyes)
Steve Mvoue (RFC Seriang)
William Esseme (BFC Daugapils)
Karl Etta Eyong (Cadix CF)

Forwards

Regis Mughe (OL)
Abdoulaye Yahaya (Tuzlaspor)
Etienne Eto’o (Plobense)
Junior Kameni (FUS Rabat)
Ivan Cedric Bikoue (Real Valladolid)

“We are coming to the end of the first phase of our preparation, before the match against Gabon. During the 16 days spent together, we have been honest with you, telling you that we are satisfied with the outcome of your work. But, unfortunately, this whole group cannot be part of the trip.

“Choices will have to be made, because professional players from the diaspora will come to lead for the group which will go to Franceville in Gabon. Places will therefore be expensive, ” explained Guy Feutchiné during the end of the camp, on the federations website.