Rigobert Song: Cameroon coach justifies Anguissa and Ngadeu omissions from World Cup friendlies

Song, 46 announced a provisional list of 36 players excluding Anguissa and Ngadue for September’s pre World Cup warm-up games before announcing his final list.

His decision raised a lot of eyebrows but the gaffer has firmly defended his choice and believes both players ‘are the leaders of the team’. He also believes they have already proven their worth and have established their places in the team.

“We all know these players; we don’t need to see them again. We have to give others the opportunity. We have to see what the others can offer to find the balance”

Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui has been an undisputed regular for the national and his Belgium Pro League club KAA Gent. The 31-year-old defender was part of the Cameroon team that won the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations-the country’s 5^th silverware.

His compatriot, Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa has been on terrific form for Italian Serie A side Napoli. He put up a spectacular display and was on target in last week’s UEFA Champions League group A opener as they thrashed Liverpool 4-1.

Song stated that the choice to leave him out was an easy call to make for the better of the team during the World Cup finals.

 “According to statistics, he is frequently in action. He plays every three days. We prefer to have him in November. He will be very useful. It is our wish that since he is currently at 100%, he will even move up to 200% in November”.

The Indomitable Lions’ training camp will kick-off in September. The five-time African champions will face Uzbekistan on September 23, before challenging World Cup bound South Korea four days later in Seoul.

Cameroon will feature at the World cup for the eighth time. They are have featured at the quadrennial football tournament more than any other African team but missed out from the previous edition in 2018.

They were also the first African nation to reach the quarter-final in 1990 losing to England in extra-time. Since then, they have failed to go past the group stages.

Cameroon are drawn in group G of the 2022 FIFA World Cup alongside five-time champions Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland. The tournament in Qatar is scheduled to run from November 20-December 18, 2022.

 IYA Ibrahima (Intern)