Cameroon look to put off-field turmoil behind them

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Jun 07, 2024. 11:00

Cameroon will look to put off-field turmoil behind them when they host Group D rivals Cape Verde for a key 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on the afternoon of Saturday 8 June 2024.

Kick-off is at 15:00 CAT.

Cameroon are placed atop the group thanks to a solid start back in November 2023 which saw them thump Mauritius 3-0 at home and draw 1-1 away to Libya.

However, the Indomitable Lions come into this match under a major cloud following an ugly war of words between Cameroon FA boss Samuel Eto’o and coach Marc Brys. The Belgian, who was appointed by the country’s sports ministry in April, was reportedly axed by Eto’o last week, only for the parties to make up and continue under the new tactician’s leadership.

“I apologise because during our first unfortunate meeting, there was a lot of emotion,” Eto’o noted. “The Cameroonian people are more important than us, and it is for them that we must work.”

While there is a state of peace now, any troubles in terms of results could flare this issue back up – and Cape Verde will hope to do just that.

The Blue Sharks are level on points with Cameroon (and third-placed Libya) after a 0-0 home draw with Angola and 2-0 away win over Eswatini in November.

Coach Bubista will rely on stalwarts such as Vozinha, Garry Rodrigues and Ryan Mende as they look to upset their heavyweight Central African hosts.

In head-to-head stats, Cameroon and Cape Verde have met in seven previous matches, dating back as far as 2008. The Indomitable Lions have claimed three wins compared to two for the Blue Sharks, while two games have been drawn.

The teams last met in an Africa Cup of Nations group stage match in Yaounde in January 2022, playing to a 1-1 draw after goals from Vincent Aboubakar and Garry Rodrigues.

Cameroon will go on to face Angola in Luanda on June 11, while Cape Verde’s next clash is at home to Libya in Praia on the same day.