AFCON 2023 (Q) - Cameroon: Rigobert Song carries out major clear-out
AFCON 2023 (Q) - Cameroon: Rigobert Song carries out major clear-out. Eight World Cup players and several senior figures have been left out by the coach.
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Many called, few chosen! Cameroon announced on Friday 10 March their 24-man squad for matchdays 3 and 4 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Côte d'Ivoire 2023 qualifiers. Without Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana, who has retired from international football, the Indomitable Lions coach has opted for a major clear-out ahead of the double-header against Namibia, scheduled for 24 and 28 March.
Eight World Cup players axed
Rigobert Song has indeed left out many regulars from the Cameroon national team. Among them are eight players who took part in the last World Cup. They include the young Olympique de Marseille goalkeeper Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union/USA), Samuel Oum Gouet (Mechelen/Belgium), Gaël Ondoua (Hannover 96/Germany), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua/China), Marou Souaibou (Orlando Pirates/South Africa) and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas).
Nsamé's omission baffles
The presence of most of these players at the Qatar World Cup had surprised more than a few, because they were either short of game time or out of form. Has Rigobert Song come to his senses? Everything suggests so, even if the absence of Jean-Pierre Nsamé, another World Cup player left out this time, may cause some confusion. The Young Boys striker is apparently no longer welcome in the Cameroon squad. In Qatar already, the former Angers player did not play a single second in the green, red and yellow shirt.
Yet he is the most prolific Cameroonian striker this season. The 29-year-old has netted 20 goals in all competitions, including 13 in the Swiss league, 4 in the Europa Conference League and 3 in the Swiss Cup. That is well above the 2 goals of Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow) or the 5 scored by Ignatius Ganago (FC Nantes), who have both been selected. The names of two other World Cup players are also missing. Besides André Onana, who has retired, Enzo Ebosse (Udinese) is out injured.
Also read: Rigobert Song: "2023 will be a year with new challenges"
Senior players on the sidelines
The list of absentees also includes senior players. The first, whose absence since the World Cup continues to cause debate, is Michaël Ngadeu. Described as the most used Cameroonian player this season (42 matches in all competitions), the KAA Gent defender in Belgium will once again watch his country's team on television. The same goes for Stéphane Bahoken. Initially included in the provisional squad despite a mixed season (4 goals in 18 Süper Lig games), the Kasimpasa striker must wait longer before earning his 23rd cap.
Unsurprisingly, however, Rigobert Song has kept several of the team's leaders, such as captain Vincent Aboubakar and Rennes' Karl Toko Ekambi, who sent Cameroon to the World Cup with a last-minute goal in their play-off against Algeria. The coach will also logically rely on Frank Zambo Anguissa and Maxim Choupo-Moting, the two Lions in the best form and most in the spotlight at the moment. Jérôme Ngom (SK Beveren/Belgium), decisive in the win over Brazil in Doha (1-0), has also been retained. The big talking point of this list, meanwhile, is the inclusion of Chelsea prospect Elliott Njongoue (20).
Arthur Wandji
List of players selected for the double-header against Namibia, counting for matchdays 3 and 4 of the TotalEnergies AFCON Côte d'Ivoire 2023 qualifiers. #TOTALENERGIESAFCON2023Q | #GOLIONS | #ALLEZLESLIONS | #LETSROARTOGETHER | #INDOMPTABLES pic.twitter.com/XKf4RUJhvR
— Les Lions Indomptables Officiel (@LIndomptables) March 10, 2023