Cameroon is unarguably one of the most successful football teams from the African continent. The fact is supported by its consistent success at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where it has won five (5) titles.
Nicknamed the Indomitable Lions – a name inspired by the most famous wild beast, the Lion – the national team often plays its home matches in traditional green-red and yellow kit, colors of the national flag.
The journey of a football powerhouse in Africa
In 1956, Cameroon participated in its inaugural recorded game, experiencing a 3 – 2 defeat against Belgian Congo. Subsequently, the nation achieved independence from France and Britain and established itself as the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
In 1963, the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) was admitted into CAF and FIFA. Cameroon’s first major competition was the 1970 AFCON, where, despite winning two out of three matches, they were unable to progress beyond the group stage.
After a decade of missing out on the AFCON tournament, the Central African country finally qualified for the 1982 African Cup of Nations.
Led by captain Théophile Abega, the Indomitable Lions clinched their first ever AFCON title in 1984. That year they emerged second in their group, then went on to overturn a 0-1 deficit in the finals to beat Nigeria 3-1.
They finished as runners-up two years later (1986) and claimed a second AFCON title in 1988 by outsmarting Nigeria once more, 1-0.
From 1990 to 2022, they made fourteen AFCON appearances out of seventeen. During that period, they grabbed three (3) AFCON trophies – winning two consecutive AFCON titles in 2000 and 2002 and another in 2017.
Key players add up to the accolades
Current FECAFOOT president and former Indomitable Lions captain, Samuel Eto’o, has raised the nation’s flag high in the continent and beyond. The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea player is the all-time leading goal scorer in the African Cup of Nations history with 18 goals.
Samuel Eto’o made his national team debut for Cameroon in the year 1997 at the age of 16 and has since lived up to expectations, emerging African player of the year four times, and is the third most capped Cameroonian player.
Although he retired in 2019, he is still considered among the all-time best players in the African continent.
Passing the Baton
A young Vincent Aboubakar made his national team debut for Cameroon on August 14, 2010, in a friendly match against Poland. At the time of his debut, he was 18 years old. Like Smauel Eto’o’s, Aboubakar’s time at the national team too has been one worthy of a blockbuster movie.
Aboubakar has gone on to earn 100 caps for the Cameroon national team, scoring a total of 37 goals. The prolific striker nicknamed the “Dark Invader” plays for Besiktas in Turkey.
Aboubakar returned to the national team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Cameroon after being sidelined in 2019 due to a long-term injury. Like the old adage that says “Make every minute count”, he did, and didn’t fail to steal the show in his home country. The former Porto man went on to win the hearts of Cameroonians after imposing himself in every match, recording 8 goals in 7 games at the tournament.
His superb performance earned him top scorer award and a feature in the Team of the Tournament. Though Aboubakar may not have the same aura as his illustrious predecessors Milla, Omam-Biyik, Mboma or Eto’o, he has always lived up to expectations when need be – this is visible given his current position as Cameroon’s third all-time goal scorer with 37 goals, coming just behind Samuel Eto’o (56) and Roger Milla (43).
The 31-year-old has featured at three AFCON competitions and will be hoping to help Cameron lay hands on another gold medal. Can he do it again in Côte d’Ivoire? That is a question that will only be answered come January 2024.
Another AFCON Title Loading for Cameroon?
The five-time African champions became part of the star-studded list of teams to qualifier for the 2024 TotalEnergies AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire after a hard earned 3-0 victory over Burundi in the last day of the AFCON qualifiers.
The Indomitable Lions are placed in Group C with reigning champions Senegal, and their neighbours, The Gambia and Guinea.
After finishing as runner up in 2002 and 2019, and champions in 2021, Senegal will be hoping to show its prowess once more in Côté d’Ivoire. The West African country considered as one of the top footballing nations will be making their 16th AFCON appearance.
Gambia will be making their second outing at the prestigious African jamboree after their 2021 AFCON debut. The Scorpions pulled a great performance to the astonishment of the continent reaching the quarter finals.
The National Elephants of Guinea on their part, will be marking their 10th appearance at the continental tournament after being runners-up in 1976 and two times quarter finalist in 2006 and 2015.
Cameroon has done football and its fans proud. Today, another opportunity lies in wait for the Indomitable Lions to grace the beautiful game of football in the continent come January.