Indomitable Lions Bag Historic 21st TotalEnergies AFCON Appearance

Cameroon will hope to reach the AFCON final for the first time since 2017. The last AFCON in Cameroon saw the Indomitable Lions finish on the third place

By Boris Esono Nwenfor & Sonita Ngunyi Nwohtazie

BUEA, September 13, 2023 – The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have qualified for a historic 21^st appearance at the upcoming TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Ivory Coast.

Cameroon sealed their qualification thanks to an emphatic victory over the Swallows of Burundi on Tuesday, September 12 at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua. The side finished top of Group C with 7 points with Namibia, who finished second joined the Indomitable Lions in Ivory Coast.

“We worked with them for a week. Played with Raymond Kalla and we had a difference in size like Moukoudi and Christopher Wooh. So, they are complementary and that corresponds to what we are looking for,” Cameroon Coach Rigobert Song said post match, looking at the performance of Wooh and Moukoudi.

The first half was a nervy one for the five times champions who were booked in their own half by the Swallows. Burundi had several chances but met a stumbling block in Andre Onana. The Manchester United goalkeeper produced more than 3 vital saves in the first 23 minutes of the game to keep his country in the game, a performance praised by Coach Rigobert Song and Cameroonians.

“I am very happy with Andre Onana’s performance,” Coach Rigobert Song said. “He demonstrates once again that he is among the best. We hope that it continues in the same vein.”

Captain Vincent Aboubakar said: “We went very far to get our qualification… I played naturally so I had no pressure. I felt like I was going to score and thanks to Moumi for the pass.”

The Swallows of Burundi headed into the game knowing a draw would have been enough for them to qualify at Cameroon’s expense. The side, however, goes home after finishing third with 4 points, 1 win, 1 draw and 2 defeats from their 4 games played at the AFCON qualifiers.

Burundi coach Etienne Ndayiragije said: “I would advise you to have confidence in your coach (Song). If you do not trust your coach, who will do that for you”

Despite the long distance to Garoua, the Cameroonian population made every effort to reach Garoua for the game. “When you love your country, distance can never be a barrier. Traveling from Yaounde to Garoua which is more than 24 hours is the only gift I can offer the Lions. So, congratulations to the entire team who have proven to us that we can walk long distances for their sake and be satisfied,” another fan told Pan African Visions.

“If we don’t support our own, who will? That is why the Maroua population decided to galvanize ourselves to shower our lions with the possible support they need to go to Ivory Coast,” Amado Moussa, an Indomitable Lions fan Pan African Visions.

The 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast will run from January to February 2024 and will involve 24 teams as they seek to claim the coveted trophy. It will be an interesting one for the Indomitable Lions who will look to claim the trophy in Ivory Coast as they did for their first AFCON crown back in 1984.