Qome two months after a failed tournament in Cameroon during the last African Cup of Nations, the Fennecs return to Central Africa to play a crucial match against the Indomitable Lions. For Djamel Belmadi and his men, it is an XXL shock where failure is prohibited in Algeria just as it is for the selection of Cameroon. On the road to the World Cup, this match also has symbolic value, as it opposes two teams that have written some of the most beautiful pages of African football at the World Cup. We remember the victory in Gijon of Algeria over West Germany on June 16, 1982, the first of an African team over a European selection in the World Cup on the score of 2 goals to 1, goals of Madjer and Belloumi for Algeria, and de Rummenige for Germany. We also remember the Cameroon epic of Roger Milla, Stephen Tataw, Joseph-Antoine Bell and the Kana-Biyick brothers, among others. Victorious over Argentina in Milan in the opening match on a goal from François Kana-Biyick, the Cameroonians will achieve the feat of reaching the quarter-finals, a first for an African team, and will only lower the flag after a heroic match with extra time (2-3) against Gary Lineker’s England.
The great premiere of Rigobert Song
To return to the Indomitable Lions version 2022, despite a positive record to say the least (14 wins, 6 draws and 3 defeats in 23 games) and promising content during its passage, the result and in particular the management of the semi-final and of the CAN classification match got the better of Portuguese coach Antonio Conceiçao. While the question of whether or not to maintain it arose for several weeks, he had received the support of the Cameroonian Minister of Sports before Fecafoot, now chaired by Samuel Eto’o, took the decision to give itself 72 hours to decide on the future of the Portuguese coach. This resulted in a complete turnaround and the arrival of the emblematic former captain, Rigobert Song, at the head of the Cameroonian football team. He is accompanied by a staff where we find former internationals Raymond Kalla (team manager), Souleymanou (goalkeeping coach), Augustine Simo (assistant coach) or the French coach Sébastien Migné, coach of Kenya during the CAN 2019, as assistant. Only one objective is in their mind: qualification. “I’m just going to bring something that will allow them to go beyond what they have in them. I’m in continuity, I didn’t have time to really prepare anything before this match. I had to leave with those who are there… We are in an emergency and when we are in an emergency, we use emergency methods. The goal is to qualify,” said Rigobert Song.
Conceiçao’s work to consolidate
If there has been a change, Cameroon inherits a base with great potential built by Antonio Conceiçao. Consolidating the work done could make this team even more formidable, especially with the offensive line around the inevitable Vincent Aboubakar. “My role in the team is to galvanize my teammates. We hope to give our best to be present in Qatar in November 2022. I am in the spirit of continuity. Conceicao did a great job. About 6 or 7 players came from the U23s. We had a good collaboration. I bring the fighting spirit of the Lions which is determination,” said the captain of the Indomitable Lions.
Same speech from the new coach who wants to make the foundations bequeathed by his predecessor last. “Antonio Conceiçao did a very good job. For those who may not know, during the Africa Cup here in Cameroon, around 6 players I coached in the U23s were part of our squad. I exchanged a lot with Conceiçao. I worked a lot with him. He is someone who deserves a lot of respect for his work. Today, I am in continuity. This is a team that has been around for a long time. I don’t claim to change everything. In a few days, it is impossible,” he continued.
Vincent Aboubakar confident
That said, the reality is not going to be that easy. Cameroon is faced with the unavailability of two of its major players for the double confrontation which awaits it with Algeria. Franck Zambo-Anguissa, victim of a tear in the adductors during his return to Naples in February, was again injured this weekend during the victory of Napoli against Udinese (2-1). For his part, Ngamaleu is also injured in the ligaments.
However, for captain Vincent Aboubakar, sparkling during the last CAN with his 8 goals scored, who also distinguished himself in the competition by his outspokenness, this is not a reason to panic, quite the contrary. “At the mental level, we are ready. Algeria has not had a good CAN this year and it wants to relaunch by qualifying for the World Cup. But it is not in Cameroon that Algeria will qualify. ” The tone is set. “The national team is full of talent. It is true that these absences can be felt, but on the other hand, there are players who can do the job. The absence of some big names may be difficult, but those who have been called upon are professionals with the ability to deliver results. “In addition, the goalkeeper Onana, victim of a car accident on his arrival in the country, should be able to hold his place in the cages of the selection.
Quit or double for Algeria
On the Algerian side, we have to start off on the right foot. While he had achieved an almost flawless since his debut on the bench of the Algerian selection since the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup, with in particular a series of 36 games in a row without defeat, a series started in November 2018, during From a 4-1 victory in Togo, counting for the CAN 2019 qualifiers, Djamel Belmadi found himself for the very first time faced with a delicate situation. The failure of CAN 2021 has apparently left its mark. The rebound capacity of the Fennecs who have almost never experienced failure for three years is put to the test. For Belmadi, a qualification for the World Cup seems all the more imperative as it is the only objective that remains to him at the head of the selection.
To face this pivotal moment, Belmadi chose to approach the double confrontation against Cameroon as the mother of battles. The example that best illustrates his choices is the return of his defensive midfielder Adlène Guedioura, 36 today and Burton Albion player, in League One, the 3and English division. He had played an essential role during the victorious CAN of 2019, and as a relay for Djamel Belmadi. His last two years have been plagued by major injuries, one to ligaments in March 2020, when he played for Al Gharafa (Qatar), and one to his ankle a few weeks after signing for Sheffield United in September , which earned him the termination of his contract and his package for the CAN. Having resumed competition, Belmadi’s loyal soldier is back, which is causing some debate. Some believe that he plays an indispensable role within the team and the group in general, others see his return as the admission of a failed renewal process since CAN 2019.
The return of Nice midfielder Hicham Boudaoui and those of Rachid Ghezzal (Besiktas), Ahmed Touba (RKC Waalwijk) and striker Ishak Belfodil (Herta Berlin) are made in particular to the detriment of players like Baghdad Bounedjah, however long essential , but sorely lacking in confidence in recent months, Yacine Brahimi, far from his best level, Said Benrahma (West Ham), who has still not marked the spirits in selection, or the yet promising midfielder Adem Zorgane (Charleroi), whose non-selection surprised. In total, 11 players present at the CAN were not selected, including also the Neapolitan winger Adam Ounas, who is missing due to injury.
Belmadi under pressure
The situation is therefore delicate. Reason why coach Belmadi is expected at the turn, something he is well aware of. “We want to offer our people a qualification for the World Cup. If we don’t qualify, I won’t wait for them to fire me, I will take my responsibilities. I want my country to participate in the World Cup. Everyone is under pressure when you are a coach, even Mancini. “, he said at a press conference, a few hours before the shock defeat of the Squadra azzurra against North Macedonia, a defeat which earned Italy a second non-participation in the World Cup.
As things stand, Belmadi is on a commando mission. He travels to Cameroon to play the Indomitable Lions in Japoma, a stadium that has not been very successful for the Fennecs. It will be necessary at all costs to contain Aboubakar and his teammates on March 25 to hope to be able to make the difference in Blida in the return match on March 29. One thing is certain: the atmosphere will be boiling and the pressure at its maximum for these two confrontations with a view to qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.
