Category: Sports

The duo of Vincent Aboubakar and Christopher Wooh didn’t take part in Cameroon men’s national team’s recent training after their 1-1 draw with Guinea.

The session was behind closed doors and the two players stayed at the President Hotel.

Wooh suffered a knee injury against Guinea.

The latest training session lasted for about 70 minutes with 25 players in attendance.

It was focused on recovery and cleaning up for starters.

Rigobert Song’s side is preparing to face holders, Senegal on Friday at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, Yamussoukro.

Before the game, the Indomitable Lions will have another training session at the INPHB South Yamussoukro from 5 pm local time.

Frank Mario Magri equalised Mohamed Bayo’s opener when the Central African side faced their Guinea counterparts which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

Cheikhou Kouyate a Senegalese player has left the team’s camp ahead of Senegals group C game with Cameroon to attend his father’s burial.

The Nottingham Forest star, who was an unused substitute in Senegal’s 3-0 win against Gambia on Monday, was allowed to attend the burial of his father, who passed away on Monday

Kouyate received the news of his father’s passing while at the Teranga Lions’ camp in Yamoussoukroon on Tuesday, and received permission from the Senegalese Football Federation to attend the funeral.

The federation released a statement offering their condolences and confirming that Kouyate would be permitted to leave camp for families reasons

The ceremony is said to take place on Wednesday in Dakar, and Kouyate aims at returning on time for Senegal’s important Group C match against Cameroon on Friday.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

The Cameroon male Handball team took off for Cairo-Egypt on Tuesday, January 16 2023 ahead of the 26th edition of the African Handball Nations Cup to be hosted by Egypt

The Handball Lions set out for the host nation barely a few hours before the kickoff of the Competition after several weeks of practicing at the Yaounde Multi-purpose sports complex to keep fit for the competition.

Before their departure via the Ethiopian Airline, the team Captain Nelvis Bufong spoke to CNA, stating their Ambitions for the Handball Jamboree.

‘The preparations have not been easy, we are going to arrive late, but we will do everything to fulfill our objective which is to qualify for the World Cup,’ said Captain Nelvis

He further revealed that ‘ we are going into this competition with one spirit, the lions fighting spirit to win all our matches to have a place on the podium’

Cameroon is drawn in group B along with host countries Egypt, Congo, and Guinea and will play their first of the competition against Co
ngo.

Other group pairs have Group A: Cape Verde, Dr Congo, Rwanda, and Zambia

Group C: Morocco, Algeria, Lybia and Gabon

Group D: Nigeria, Tunisia, Angola and Kenya

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Secretary General of the Cameroon Football Federation, Blaise Djounang said in a communique that the social media has been flooded with fake news about the country’s participation in the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire ranging from the head coach of the senior men’s national team, the team captain and their entire participation in the tournament.

‘These crudely crafted fake news stories have the potential to destabilize the national team, its technical staff, and the administrative support staff.

In particular, this malicious enterprise has interfered with the communications regarding the temporary unavailability of Captain Vincent Aboubakar,’ He said

The SG also said news about an interview granted by the Fecafoot president, the quarrel between him as well as the exclusion of some players, are all fake.

There were also rumors of a disengagement between top management and some key figures including the spokesperson of Fecafoot president, Ernest Obama.

Fecafoot said this is also fake, explaining that dur
ing competitions, staff travel by segments because they have different roles to play at different times.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Muluh Alfred

Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana secured a respectable 5th place position in the esteemed 2023 FIFA Men’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year award.

The prestigious awards recognized the top goalies regardless of league or background for their exceptional performances between 19 December 2022 to August 20th, 2023.

The Cameroonian keeper who has been on the radar for other awards finished behind the likes of YaccinMarc-André ter Stegen, Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, and Ederson, earning a commendable 5 points.

Brazilian netminder Ederson, triumphed over his peers after a standout season protecting Manchester City’s treble-winning endeavors With an astonishing 23 points, blowing past runners-up Thibaut Courtois (20 points) and Yassine Bounou (16 points) and Onana.

The said ranks came about following votes from An international jury comprised of current coaches and captains of all men’s national teams (one from each team), specialist journalists from every territory repped by a national team,
and fans from around the globe registered on FIFA.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The head coach of Cameroon’s senior men’s national team, Rigobert Song reflected on his team’s 1-1 draw with Guinea in their opening match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday.

The Indomitable Lions had to come from a goal down in the Group C tie after Mohamed Bayo had given the Syli National the lead in the tenth minute.

The numerical advantage after a red card to Guinea’s Francois Kamano counted for something in the second period of the match.

Frank Magri headed Cameroon’s equalizer in the 51st minute to ensure a 1- draw, a scenario Song saw as a tough one.

‘The start of the match was difficult for us, especially in the first 30 minutes. You know how it has been at the start of this tournament; it has always been difficult. We saw how some teams started this tournament.’ Song told journalists after the match.

The former Cameroonian player added that they controlled the game but couldn’t pick all the points.

‘We controlled the flow of the match, but we were not able to score the second
goal of the match to take the victory, I hope to do it in the next match.’

The Cameroonian coach explained that he would correct the mistakes his players made during the clash with Guinea, before their next game which will be against Senegal.

‘We all saw the match, there is a positive part.

‘We will correct the mistakes, and in the next four days the players will know their mission.’

Senegal tops Group C with three points ahead of Cameroon and Guinea both with a point while Gambia is yet to register a point after a game.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Head coach of Cameroon, Rigobert Song has opened up on why he dropped Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana from his starting lineup against Guinea in the opening Group C encounter at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Instead, Song started Fabrice Ondoa in goal for the 1-1 draw.

During the post-match press conference with journalists, Song opened up on the reason why he didn’t start the former Ajax save hands

‘No, Andre Onana, we all know that he wouldn’t play. We need to tick to our logic.

‘He [Onana] arrived at 4 am, how do you expect him to play at 5 pm?

‘He is part of the group. He joined us at 4 am. So he’s part of the squad. There’s the rest of the competition and I am sticking with my full squad.’ He concluded.

It wasn’t a perfect start for the Indomitable Lions after playing out a 1-1 draw with ten players from Guinea in Yamussoukro on Monday.

The next focus for Song’s side is to pick a positive result against holders, Senegal.

Senegal beat Gambia 3-0 in their opening match on Monda
y.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

Lionel Messi has been named FIFA Men’s Player of the Year for the umpteenth time after defeating Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain and Erling Haaland of Manchester City.

The said award was voted by Coaches, captains, journalists and admirers who picked Messi as the supreme player over Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haalan who won a treble with Manchester City.

Messi assisted PSG in winning the French Ligue 1 championship side-by-side with Kylian Mbappe after leading Argentina to a World Cup title.

He later moved to MLS franchise, Inter Miami in 2023 where he scored a total of 10 goals, assisting Inter Miami to secure the 2023 League Cup, a competition that involved MLS teams and Liga MX teams in Mexico.

The players were assessed based on their performance after the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar till August 20th, 2023.

Haaland, despite scoring 52 goals in 53 games during the 2022-2023 season and helping City to attain a treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles, came seco
nd in the poll because fewer national team leaders gave him the first-place vote.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

By Biwah Bryan

This will be the third encounter between Cameroon and Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations, all taking place in the group stages with the two previous meetings ending in draws: 2-2 in 1998 and 1-1 in 2015.

Cameroon’s squad is facing selection woes ahead of the AFCON 2023 as Bryan Mbuemo is injured, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is left out of the Squad, Vincent Aboubakar and Frank Magri are injured.

Additionally, goalkeeper André Onana may be unavailable after missing the entire tournament preparation and only joining the team a few hours before the game.

Cameroon drew their only friendly before the tournament 1-1 against Zambia, whereas Guinea had a 2-0 victory over Nigeria.

Opposite Song will be Kaba Diawara, a former Premier League striker who led Guinea into the 2023 AFCON as coach.

Serhou Guirassy stands as Guinea’s star striker but Unfortunately, an injury in their final warm-up game against Nigeria may hinder Guirassy’s participation in the opening game.

Cameroon vs Guinea Squads

Came
roon: André Onana, Fabrice Ondoa, Dévis Epassy, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Nouhou Tolo, Junior Tchamadeu, Oumar Gonzalez, Darlin Yongwa, Christopher Wooh, Harold Moukoudi, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Enzo Tchato, Malcom Bokélé, Yvan Neyou, Olivier Kemen, Frank Anguissa, Ben Elliott, Wilfried Nathan Douala, Olivier Ntcham, Karl Toko-Ekambi, Frank Magri, Vincent Aboubakar, Moumi Ngamaleu, Faris Moumbagna, Leonel Ateba, Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, Clinton N’Jie.

Coach: Rigobert Song

Guinea: Ibrahim Koné, Aly Keita, Moussa Camara, Mohamed Ali Camara, Sekou Sylla, Julian Jeanvier, Saïdou Sow, Mouctar Diakhaby, Antoine Conté, Issiaga Sylla, Ibrahim Diakité, Seydouba Cissé, Amadou Diawara, Naby Keïta, Mory Konaté, Ilaix Moriba, Abdoulaye Touré, Aguibou Camara, Mohamed Bayo, José Kanté, Serhou Guirassy, Morgan Guilavogui, Facinet Conté, Karim Cissé, François Kamano.

Coach: Kaba Diawara

Source: Cameroon News Agency