Cameroon national football team

Infobox National football team
Name = Cameroon
Badge = Cameroon FA.png FIFA Trigramme = CMR
Nickname = Lions Indomptables
("Indomitable Lions")
Association = Fédération Camerounaise
de Football
Confederation = CAF (Africa)
Captain = Rigobert Song
Coach = flagicon|GER Otto Pfister |
Asst Manager = Gweha Ikouam Fils
Most caps = Rigobert Song (122)
Top scorer = Samuel Eto'o (34)
Home Stadium = Stade Omnisports
FIFA Rank = 12
FIFA max = 11
FIFA max date = November 2006
FIFA min = 62
FIFA min date = April 1997

Elo Rank = 24
Elo max = 12
Elo max date = June 2003
Elo min = 76
Elo min date = April 1995

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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFF00|body2=FFFF00|rightarm2=FFFF00|shorts2=008000|socks2=FF0000
First game = )
Largest win = )
Largest loss =flagicon|Norway Norway 6 - 1 Cameroon flagicon|Cameroon (Oslo, Norway; 31 October, 1990)
flagicon|Russia Russia 6 - 1 Cameroon flagicon|Cameroon (Palo Alto, California, USA; 28 June, 1994)
flagicon|Costa Rica Costa Rica 5 - 0 Cameroon flagicon|Cameroon (San José, Costa Rica; 9 March, 1997)
World cup apps = 5
World cup first = 1982
World cup best = Quarterfinals, 1990
Regional name = African Nations Cup
Regional cup apps = 15
Regional cup first = 1970
Regional cup best = Winners, 1984, 1988,
2000, 2002
Confederations cup apps = 2
Confederations cup first = 2001
Confederations cup best = 2nd, 2003

The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed "Lions Indomptables (Indomitable Lions)", is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side; Cameroon have qualified for the FIFA World Cup five times - in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 - more than any other African nation. They were the first African team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup, in 1990, losing to England in extra time. They have also won 4 African Nations Cups, as well as the gold medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

History

Cameroon played its first match against Somalia in 1960, prevaling 9-2.

Cameroon qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 1982. With the increase of 16 to 24 teams Cameroon qualified along with Algeria to represent Africa in Spain. Cameroon was drawn into group 1 with Italy, Poland, and Peru. In their first game Cameroon faced Italy and held on to a surprising 1-1 draw. Cameroon held Peru and Poland to 0-0 draws but failed to qualify for the second round. Cameroon did their fans proud having not lost a game.

Cameroon narrowly failed to qualify for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico

Cameroon qualified for the 1990 World Cup surpassing Nigeria and beating Tunisia in the final round playoff. In the final tournament Cameroon were drawn into group B with Argentina, Romania, and the Soviet Union. Cameroon shocked the world by defeating holders Argentina 1-0. Cameroon later defeated Romania 2-1 and lost to the Soviet Union 4-0, becoming the first side to top a World Cup Finals group with a negative goal difference. In the second round Cameroon defeated Colombia 2-1 with Roger Milla scoring two goals in the extra time. In the quarter finals Cameroon faced England. At 25 minutes England's David Platt scored for England. In the second half however Cameroon came back with a 61st minute penalty from Kunde and took the lead with Ekeke at 65 minutes. England however equalized in the 83rd minute with a penalty from Lineker. Lineker made in 3-2 for England with a penalty in the 105th minute. Cameroon had nearly created one of the greatest upsets in the World Cup.

The 1994 World Cup in the USA saw the adjustment of representation for three African teams qualify. Cameroon qualified with Nigeria and Morocco. In the final tournament Cameroon were drawn into group B with Sweden, Brazil, and Russia. After convincing 2-2 draw with Sweden, Cameroon were determined to make an impact. However a 3-0 loss to Brazil and a 6-1 loss to Russia effectively ended their hopes of glory.

The 1998 World Cup in France saw the increase of 24 to 32 teams. Cameroon qualified alongside five African countries. After qualifying as expected, Cameroon were drawn into group B with Italy, Chile, and Austria. Cameroon struggled and drew their first two games with Chile and Austria. Cameroon were eliminated from the group when they lost to Italy 3-0.

Cameroon qualified for the 2002 World Cup in Korea-Japan clinching first place in their group which included Angola, Zambia, and Togo. Before the start of the World Cup, Cameroon ran into controversy sporting Puma sleeveless kits which they wore in the 2002 African Cup of Nations. FIFA immediately declared the kits illegal and black sleeves were added. Cameroon were drawn into group E with Germany, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia. Cameroon started with a 1-1 draw with Ireland after giving up the lead and later defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0. In their last game Cameroon were defeated 2-0 by Germany and were narrowly eliminated by the Irish who had not lost a game.In the 2006 World Cup qualifying round Cameroon were drawn into group 3 with Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, and Benin. Cameroon led the group for most of time unitil their final game. On October 8, 2005 Cameroon drew with Egypt 1-1 while Côte d'Ivoire defeated Sudan 3-1. This result prevented Cameroon from making the World Cup.

Controversy about sleeveless and one-piece kits

Cameroon used sleeveles PUMA shirts at the 2002 African Cup of Nations in Mali. FIFA, however, didn't allow Cameroon to use the same kits at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and black sleeves were added to the shirts. The 2004 African Cup of Nations witnessed Cameroon again run into controversy regarding their kits. PUMA had designed a one piece kit for the Cameroon team which FIFA declared illegal stating that the kits must have separate shirts and shorts. FIFA then imposed fines on Cameroon and deducted six points from their qualifying campaign.. PUMA argued that a two piece kit is not stated as a requirement in the FIFA laws of the game. PUMA however lost the case in court and Cameroon were forced to wear two piece kits and FIFA restored the six qualifying points to Cameroon

The death of a team member

In 2003, the Cameroonian player Marc-Vivien Foe died playing with Cameroon in the 2003 Confederations Cup. Marc-Vivien Foe died on the pitch in the 75th minute of the match. In his honor, in the final of the Cup the Cameroonian team wore jerseys with Marc-Vivien Foe's name on the back during the warm up.

Cameroon Football Achievements

:Olympic Games :::*1 Time Gold Medalist (2000):African Cup of Nations :::*4 Time Champion (1984, 1988, 2000, 2002)

:All-Africa Games :::*4 Time Champion (1991, 1999, 2003, 2007):Afro-Asian Cup of Nations :::*1 Time Champion (1985):CEMAC Cup :::*2 Times Champion (2003, 2005)::*1 Time Runners-up:Central African Games :::*2 Times Champion (1976, 1987):UDEAC Championship :::*4 Times Champion (1984, 1986, 1987, 1989)::*1 Time Runners-up
*sport honours|African Youth Championship|1|1995
*sport honours|African Under-17 Championship|1|2003

World Cup record

*1930 to 1962 - "Did not enter"
*1966 - "Withdrew"
*1970 to 1978 - "Did not qualify"
*1982 - Round 1
*1986 - "Did not qualify"
*1990 - Quarterfinal
*1994 - Round 1
*1998 - Round 1
*2002 - Round 1
*2006 - "Did not qualify"

African Nations Cup record

*1957 to 1965 - "Did not enter"
*1968 - "Did not qualify"
*1970 - Round 1
*1972 - Third place
*1974 to 1980 - "Did not qualify"
*1982 - Round 1
*1984 - Champions
*1986 - Second place
*1988 - Champions
*1990 - Round 1
*1992 - Fourth place
*1994 - "Did not qualify"
*1996 - Round 1
*1998 - Quarterfinals
*2000 - Champions
*2002 - Champions
*2004 - Quarterfinals
*2006 - Quarterfinals
*2008 - Second Place

Current squad

The following players were called for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against Tanzania on June 21 2008.

Recent Call Ups 2008

The following players have been called up for the team in 2008.

Cameroon Managers

* 1988-90 Flagicon|USSR Valeri Nepomniachi
* 1992-92 Flagicon|FRA Philippe Redon
* 1992-93 Flagicon|CMR Jules Nyongha
* 1994-94 Flagicon|FRA Henri Michel
* 1994-96 Flagicon|CMR Jules Nyongha
* 1996-97 Flagicon|BEL Louis Depireux
* 1997-98 Flagicon|CMR Jean Manga Onguene
* 1998-98 Flagicon|FRA Claude Le Roy
* 1998-00 Flagicon|FRA Pierre Lechantre
* 2000-01 Flagicon|CMR Jean-Paul Akono
* 2001-01 Flagicon|FRA Pierre Lechantre
* 2001-01 Flagicon|FRA Robert Corfu
* 2001-04 Flagicon|DEU Winfried Schäfer
* 2005-06 Flagicon|PRT Artur Jorge
* 2006-07 Flagicon|NLD Arie Haan
* 2007-07 Flagicon|CMR Jules Nyongha
* 2007- Flagicon|DEU Otto Pfister

Famous players

* Won both 2000 African Nations Cup and Summer Olympics

See also

*Cameroon women's national football team

External links

* [http://www.fecafootonline.com/ Fédération Camerounaise de Football] official site
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesk/kam-intres.html RSSSF archive of results 1960-]
* [http://www.facebook.com//profile.php?success=1&id=1231251710#/pages/Equipe-du-Cameroun-de-football-Les-Lions-Indomptables/21918202309 Facebook page ]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yaounde-Cameroon/Cameroon-National-Football-Team/17996171963 Cameroon Football Fan Page]