Mbeumo gets World Cup nod for Cameroon

Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo

Saturday Nov 12, 2022. 17:14

Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song has announced his 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with recently-capped Bryan Mbeumo making the final cut.

Brentford forward Mbeumo only made his debut for the Indomitable Lions in a friendly with Uzbekistan on September 23 and went on to win his second cap against South Korea four days later.

The 23-year-old had represented France at youth level but switched his allegiance to Cameroon in August after holding a meeting with FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o in London.

Song included a few other surprises in the party, with uncapped goalkeeper Simon Ngapandouetnbu getting the nod along with Souaibou Marou and Jerome Ngom, who are both home-based players.

One notable exclusion is Gent centre-back Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui, who featured at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil earlier this year, while Lens midfielder Jean Onana was also omitted.

Eto’o believes the Central African giants are primed to make an impact in Qatar, saying: “For most of the time, we were not adequately prepared but that will not happen this time.”

Song’s side were drawn in Group G alongside five-time champions Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland and will kick off their campaign against the Swiss on November 24.

Cameroon’s World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy (Abha Club), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille), Andre Onana (Inter Milan);

Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Enzo Ebosse (Udinese), Collins Fai (Al Tai), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris Salonika), Tolo Nouhou (Seattle Sounders), Christopher Wooh (Stade Rennes);

Midfielders: Martin Hongla (Verona), Pierre Kunde (Olympiakos), Olivier Ntcham (Swansea City), Gael Ondoua (Hannover 96), Samuel Oum Gouet (Mechelen), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli);

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nassr), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Bayern Munich), Souaibou Marou (Coton Sport), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys Berne), Jerome Ngom (Colombe Dja), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys Berne), Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon).