By Angu Lesley Ngwa A
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
As the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup enters its final stretch, Cameroon find themselves in a familiar position — needing not only to win, but also to rely on results elsewhere.
With two matches left to play, the Indomitable Lions trail Cape Verde in Group D and will need the island nation to drop points either away to Libya or at home to Eswatini to have a realistic chance of reclaiming first place. Cameroon’s route is narrow, but not impossible — and if history is any guide, they have a knack for last-minute comebacks.
Absences and Opportunity: Eyong’s Debut Amid Defensive Setbacks
Head coach Marc Brys faces a selection headache ahead of the decisive fixtures. Defenders Christopher Wooh and Enzo Boyomo are both suspended, forcing Cameroon into defensive reshuffles.
In attack, the door opens for Karl Etta Eyong, the 21-year-old Levante forward, who has been handed his first senior call-up. His inclusion offers pace and directness — qualities Cameroon have occasionally lacked in recent outings.
Other newcomers such as Samuel Junior Kotto and Fidèle Brice Ambina have also been included, as Brys looks to balance youth and experience at a crucial moment in the campaign.
Projected Line-up (4–3–3)
Goalkeeper: André Onana (Trabzonspor)
Defenders: Michael Ngadeu (Beijing Gouan), Castelletto Jean Charles (Al Duhail), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders) and Jackson Tchatchoua (Wolves)
Midfielders: Zambo Anguissa(Napoli) Martin Hongla (Granada CF), Carlos Baleba (Brighton and Hoves Albion)
Forwards: Bryan Mbeumo(Manchester United) , Vincent Aboubakar (captain and unattached), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante)
This setup offers stability at the back while introducing Eyong as an attacking wildcard — likely starting on the left, where his pace can stretch defences.
Echoes of Blida 2022
Cameroon’s 2022 qualification against Algeria remains one of the defining moments in African football. After losing the first leg in Douala, the Lions stunned Algeria in Blida with Karl Toko Ekambi’s late extra-time strike to seal a 2–1 aggregate win.
It was a comeback built on belief and resilience — the very qualities they’ll need again if they are to overturn the current deficit.
The Mathematics of Qualification
Here’s what must happen for Cameroon to finish top of Group D and qualify automatically:
Cape Verde currently lead by four points.
Cameroon must win both remaining games — away to Mauritius and at home to Angola.
Cape Verde must lose or draw at least one of their two fixtures — away to Libya or at home to Eswatini.
If Cape Verde win both, they qualify regardless of Cameroon’s results. A single slip-up, however, reopens the door.
Libya, third in the group, could yet influence the outcome; they have already held Cape Verde to a draw earlier in the campaign.
Balancing Experience and Youth
The return of key figures like André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Vincent Aboubakar, and André Onana gives Cameroon structure and leadership. Around them, Brys is building a new generation: Mbeumo’s dynamism, Eyong’s potential, and Tolo’s defensive reliability point toward the future.
But the question remains whether the blend can produce immediate results under pressure. Cameroon’s attacking rhythm has been inconsistent — at times overly reliant on Aboubakar’s individual brilliance.
Pressure, Pedigree, past and Perspective
No African nation has qualified for more World Cups than Cameroon — eight in total. That legacy fuels expectation but also belief. The Lions have a history of finding a way when all seems lost.
Cape Verde, by contrast, have been disciplined and efficient, scoring when it matters and keeping clean sheets in key fixtures. Yet they lack the depth and big-game experience that Cameroon can draw upon in the final stretch.
A Test of Character
The next two matches are not just about tactics; they are about mentality. Brys’ squad will need the same unity and determination that carried Cameroon through Blida in 2022.
For Cameroon, the mission is clear: win both games, apply pressure, and hope Cape Verde blink first.
If they can summon that familiar resilience and harness their blend of experience and youth, another dramatic qualification story could yet be written — one worthy of the Indomitable Lions’ legacy.
Copyright©2025 kick442.com-Cameroon
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written, or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from our management.
This site is not responsible for the content displayed by external sites
English 
French