After the debacle of last Tuesday, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will tomorrow, in Kumasi, play their second match at the on-going 26th Africa Cup of Nations. The decisive encounter will be against the Chipolopolo of Zambia; a team with no lesser ambition than the Pharaohs of Egypt who trounced the Lions, 4 - 2, in their opener.
Zambia presently tops Group C with three points after scoring three goals and bagging none in their maiden encounter at the tournament against Sudan.
Prior to the competition, Cameroon and Egypt were tipped by forecasters as being the favourites of Group C. But the honourable performance of the Zambians in their first outing is an indication that nothing should be taken for granted. Most especially because Cameroon has demonstrated to what extent it could be vulnerable. Last Tuesday, fans of the Indomitable Lions were shocked by the dismal performance of their team. The squad was a shadow of the ferocity and strength that is characteristic of the Lions. Bad luck or a reality of the dwindling fortunes of the team? Only the subsequent group matches will tell.
All the same, between Tuesday and tomorrow, three days would have gone by. Three days is ample time for all the stakeholders (players, coaches, administrators) to reason together and come up with new strategies. Yes, new winning strategies because the Lion's performance on Tuesday was a sham in all aspects. Beginning with the docile technical bench, the questionable choice of players and doubtful tactical options which were partly responsible for the cold shower from the Egyptians. The goalkeeping was callous. Attack was reduced to one person (Eto'o Fils), while the midfield excelled in indecisive and blind passes. And what about the porous defence? In all, the Lions were weak and meek. They could not match the strength of the agile young Egyptians who surpassed them in both speed and ball possession.We might have been reaping the fruits of ill-preparedness; the failure of Cameroon's national football team, which is supposed to be under restructuring, to have a veritable test match prior to the continental football jamboree. The coach, like other Cameroonians, was probably discovering the shortcomings of the new breed of Lions last Tuesday. The Egypt - Cameroon encounter could therefore be considered as the first test match for Pfister's selection. If the match helped in anyway, it was the fact that it brought to light the weak joints in the chain of the Lions. Head coach, Otto Pfister, who has been brooding over the fall, is expected to have revised his strategies. So too are the players. For, what is important is not the fall, but to know what caused the fall. As Captain Song and the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Augustin Edjoa rightly put it during meetings in Kumasi, "losing a match is not the end of the world. Cameroon's chances to move on are still intact". And from all indications, the players have already turned over the gloomy page. Optimism reigns. Example: goal poacher, Samuel Eto'o Fils, is ready to stake FCFA 50 million with any one who doubts the fact that Cameroon will make it to, at least, the semi finals. This, however, has to start with the team grabbing a victory tomorrow.
Cameroonians are therefore looking forward to a face-saving performance from the Indomitable Lions in their encounter against Zambia. It's the hope and pride of an entire nation that is at stake. A look at the mobilisation and efforts which the government has made to ensure a hitch-free expedition to Ghana tells it all. Contrary to the past, when there were skirmishes over unpaid bonuses, etc, this time, there is transparency. Serenity abounds. Money was disbursed well on time. Prior to their departure for Ghana, the players received the Olympic and participation dues; FCFA 20.5 million each. Similarly, the players already know how much they would pocket if they succeed to move to the second round or bring home the trophy. For once, sports authorities have stated the amounts which each player would make at each step of the way. Logically, such transparency and commitment, on the part of the government, should spur the Lions to victories. Conquests that we need for the pride and image of our country! For, if Cameroon is well-known globally today, it is partly due to the exploits of some of its footballers. Rather than water down this hard-earned reputation, the present breed of players should do what Cameroonians expect from them. Defend the national colours with honour. Lions, make us proud and happy. Make us live those good old days again
No comments:
Post a Comment