Omam-Biyik happy with Cameroon’s AFCON draw

Former Cameroon's international Francois Omam-Biyik. File dated 2014

Thursday Aug 19, 2021. 12:00

Cameroon legend Francois Omam-Biyik says he is happy with the host nation’s group stage draw for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

The draw was held in Yaounde earlier this week and marks the start of a countdown to the 33rd edition of the AFCON.

The Indomitable Lions will face Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Cape Verde in Group A of the competition, which is scheduled to be held from 9 January to 6 February next year in the Central African country.

“Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cape Verde are not a bad draw for Cameroon, because we could have had worse than that,” said Biyik at the draw, as quoted by the Confederation of African Football’s website.

Biyik, who amassed over 70 caps for the Indomitable Lions, played at three World Cups and two AFCONs for Cameroon, and is best known for scoring the winning goal in a shock 1-0 triumph over Argentina in the opening match of Italia 1990.

The 55-year-old, however, adds that Cameroon must not underestimate their opponents and has called on this generation of players to win a sixth AFCON title for their nation.

“You have to respect all the teams. Everyone struggled to be there, it’s up to us to take it game after game and make it to the end”, he added.

Omam-Biyik continued, “This generation of Indomitable Lions must win the AFCON. There is talent, mentality too. We have to be successful in this journey. I think that when the time comes, we will have all these ingredients to win this Africa Cup of Nations.”