Bryan Mbeumo and Maxim Choupo-Moting, essential parts of the Cameroon national team's attack, will not be travelling to Côte d'Ivoire in January for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The miracle is no longer possible. Bryan Mbeumo will not be playing for Cameroon at the next Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). It had already been feared for several weeks, but coach Rigobert Song confirmed it on Thursday December 28, 2023, when he published his final list. The Brentford striker has not recovered from the injury he sustained on December 9 against Sheffield (0-1).
Bryan Mbeumo will have to wait for his first AFCON. A huge blow not only for the player who has become the Bees' providential man this season (7 goals and 3 assists in 15 Premier League games), but also for the Indomitable Lions' manager. Rigobert Song will have to think about what to do without him. "We were very upset to learn of his unavailability. He's a player who's proved lately that he's very important. We'll find the right formula to make up for his absence, so that it doesn't make itself felt", says the coach.
Choupo loses his place
Another key striker to miss the Ivorian expedition? Maxim Choupo-Moting. And unlike Mbeumo, who is injured, the Bayern Munich striker has simply been rejected by the Cameroon technical staff. The former Parisian has missed the team's last four matches. Frank Magri and Faris Moumbagna took the opportunity to make room for him.
My colleagues and I," explained Rigobert Song, "have stayed in line with what we've been doing for a while. Choupo-Moting is an essential player, but lately we've seen something emerging. He's still an important player, but we had to make a choice". It's a tough choice, like the ones made by leaving out other key players such as Martin Hongla and Pierre Kunde Malong. As a result, Cameroon's list of 27 includes two local players and more than a dozen players who took part in the last World Cup.
Cameroon's list of 27 players
Goalkeepers: Dévis Epassy - Simon Ngapandouentbu - Fabrice Ondoa - André Onana
Defenders: Darwin Yongwa - Christopher Wooh - Nouhou Tolo - Oumar Gonzales - Junior Tchamadeu - Harold Moukoudi - Jean-Charles Castelletto - Enzo Tchato - Malcom Bokélé
Midfielders: Zambo Anguissa - Ben Elliott - Olivier Ntcham - Olivier Kemen - Yvan Neyou - Wilfried Douala
Attackers: Toko Ekambi - Faris Moumbagna - Clinton Njie - Vincent Aboubakar - Frank Magri - Georges-Kevin Nkoudou - Léonel Ateba - François Mughe
