Cameroon Fans Hope for Green Luck in AFCON Opener

The Cameroonian squad, led by coach Rigobert Song, a former defender and two-time AFCON champion, left their hotel at 3:30 p.m. and made their way to the Charles Konan Banny Stadium, named after the former Ivorian prime minister and mediator. Mr. Song and his staff convened yesterday for the pre-match technical meeting, where they discussed the strategy and tactics for the game.

Mr. Song also commented on his goalkeeper André Onana, who will miss the first match on Monday due to his late arrival from the UK. Mr. Onana, who plays for Manchester United, flew in on a chartered flight overnight after conceding two goals in the match against Tottenham, which ended in a 2-2 draw.{loadmoduleid 377}

“I agree (with his late arrival) because we all know that Onana remains one of the best goalkeepers. If we gave him authorization it is because we know the qualities he has and what he can bring. At group level, everything is going well, it’s not annoying, it remains competitive. But what interests us now is tomorrow’s match and making do with what we have,” Mr. Song said.

After deliberation, it was confirmed that the Lions Indomptables would don the green jersey, red shorts, and yellow socks for their inaugural match on Monday. This strategic choice has left the superstitious fans pleased, as it avoids the “unlucky” yellow jersey, which has been associated with some of the team’s past failures.

It is worth noting that Cameroon secured its first African championship title in 1984 in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, while wearing yellow. However, some fans express reservations, stating, “Yes, but we’ve faced setbacks with the yellow jersey in subsequent tournaments.” The most recent example was in 2019, when Cameroon lost to Nigeria in the round of 16 while wearing yellow.

The stage is set, and fans eagerly anticipate the outcome in this carefully chosen ensemble. Cameroon is the second most successful team in the AFCON, with five titles, behind only Egypt with seven. Cameroon has qualified for a record 21 appearances in the AFCON, including the upcoming edition in Ivory Coast. Cameroon’s captain, Vincent Aboubakar, is the top scorer of the AFCON 2021, with eight goals. He also scored the winning goal in the AFCON 2017 final against Egypt, giving Cameroon its fifth and last title.

Cameroon is in Group A, along with the hosts Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Comoros. The top two teams from each group, as well as the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage. Cameroon’s next matches are against Comoros on January 19 and Ivory Coast on January 23, both in Yamoussoukro.

The AFCON 2023, which was postponed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is the first edition to feature 24 teams, up from 16 in previous editions. The tournament is also the first to be held in January and February since 2017, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reverted to the original schedule to avoid clashing with the FIFA Club World Cup and the European leagues.

The AFCON 2023 is expected to attract millions of viewers across the continent and beyond, as well as generate significant economic and social benefits for the host country and the participating teams. The tournament is also seen as an opportunity to showcase the rich and diverse culture and heritage of Africa, as well as to promote peace and unity among the nations.{loadmoduleid 378}