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Preview: Cameroon – Morocco (06.06.2009)
The battle of the Lions will be without doubt the toughest showdown of the African qualifiers this weekend…
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions: A Wounded Pride
The news of the resignation of Cameroon head coach Otto Pfister couldn’t have come at a worse time. The veteran German tactician left a week before the Indomitable Lions, smarting from a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Togo, were preparing to face another wounded lion.The Atlas Lions of Morocco who were beaten 2-1 at home by continental minnows Gabon in the first group matches played in March.Pfister quit while accompanying the squad to their training camp in Belgium and was replaced by former national goalkeeper, Thomas Nkono, who, at the time of his appointment, was the national goalkeepers’ tactician.The battle ahead of Cameroon is indeed difficult, but it is not insurmountable. The team has a legion of able talents who can easily turn the tables on a bad start when they assemble at home on Sunday. Before he resigned, Pfister had called to camp a new group of youngsters who will now be tasked with taking Cameroon into the future.
The Atlas Lions: Once Beaten, Twice Shy
Morocco missed the last World Cup in Germany by a whisker. A win against Roger Lemerre’s Tunisia would have been enough to have the Atlas Lions feature in the World Cup. But the two teams had to settle for a 2-2 draw and Morocco missed out on the world football extravaganza.
Now Lemerre is the one overseeing the dreams of Morocco, who are aiming to qualify for the first World Cup held on African soil. They started the campaign on a false footing after they went down 2-1 against Gabon, who were supposed to be the group’s whipping boys.
The Frenchman’s charges have two tough matches in a space of two weeks that will determine where the group title is headed. After tussling with Cameroon, the Atlas Lions will prepare for a showdown with Togo in a fortnight.
TEAM NEWS
Cameroon
To bolster the defence, which has been marshalled by the aging Rigobert Song, Newcastle United defender Sebastien Bassong was drafted into the team and is expected to make his debut for Cameroon this Sunday. The 22-year-old centre-back is a former France Under-21 international, but because he didn’t play a competitive game for the French juniors, he has a licence to play for Cameroon, a country where his parents hail from.
Young Monaco-based defender Nicolas Nkoulou will likely replace the injured Andre Bikey. The Indomitable squad will miss the agility of Arsenal’s Alex Song, who has forced his way into the midfield of the Premier League club. Song is suspended for three matches, hence he will not feature.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol, Spain), Joslain Mayebi (Hakoach Ramat Gan, Israel), Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor, Turkey)
Defenders: Benoit Assou Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Timothee Atouba (Hamburg, Germany), Sebastien Bassong (Newcastle United, England), Augustin Binya (Benfica, Portugal), Armand Deumi (Gaziantepspor, Turkey), Geremi Fotso Njitap (Newcastle United, England), Nicolas Nkoulou (Monaco, France), Rigobert Song
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(Trabzonspor, Turkey)
Midfielders: Aurelien Chedjou (Lille, France), Eric Djemba Djemba (Odense, Denmark), Achille Emana (Real Betis, Spain), Eyong Enoh (Ajax, Netherlands), Jean Makoun (Olympique Lyon, France), Modeste Mbami (Olympique Marseille, France), Stephane Mbia (Stade Rennes, France), Daniel Ngom Kome (Tenerife, Spain), Alioum Saidou (Kayserispor, Turkey)
Strikers: Paul Alo’o Efoulou (Angers, France), Pierre Boya (Grenoble, France), Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona, Spain), Dorge Rostard Kouemaha (MSV Duisburg, Germany), Somen Tchoyi (SV Salzburg, Austria)
Morocco
Lamerre has announced a list of 23 players for the task ahead. Surprisingly Jaouad Zairi has been recalled into the squad after a two year absence to replace Adel Taarabt, who is still recovering from knee surgery. Abdessalam Benjelloun has been dropped and Adil Hermach, who featured against Gabon, is still unable to play after injuring his knee last month.
Meanwhile, Mbark Boussoufa has made the squad, despite suffering a double jaw fracture for which he will require surgery. He will almost certainly be ruled out of the Cameroon match on June 7. However, it is possible that Lemerre will keep him in the squad in order to use him on June 20 versus Togo. The Frenchman, who is a stubborn disciplinarian, has omitted Youssef Safri and Abdeslam Ouaddou because of disciplinary reasons.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Karim Fegrouche (Wydad AC), Nadir Lamiaghri (Wydad AC), Karim Zaza (Aalborg Bk), Brahim Zaari (FC Den Bosch)
Defenders: Mickael Chretien Basser (AS Nancy-Lorraine), Oualid Regragui (Grenoble Foot 38), Elamine Erbate (Al-Wahda), Talal El Karkouri (SC Qatar), Mehdi Benatia El Moutaqui (Clermont Foot), Issam Adoua (Wydad AC). Badr El Kaddouri (Dinamo Kiev), Hassan El Mouataz (K.S.C.Lokeren)
Midfielders: Younes Mankari (Wydad AC), Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Houssine Kharja (AS Sienne), Kamel Chafni (AJ Auxerres), Merouane Zemmama (Al-Schaab), Mbark Boussoufa (R.S.C. Anderlecht), Nabil Dirar (Club Brugges)
Strikers: Youssouf Hadji (AS Nancy-Lorraine), Mounir El Hamdaoui (AZ Alkmaar), Nabil Baha (FC Malaga), Marouane Chamakh (Girondins de Bordeaux)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cameroon
In Carlos Kameni, Cameroon have a world class keeper. Kameni had an impressive outing with Espanyol last year and a number of European clubs are now interested in his services. He will want to keep a clean sheet against Morocco.
Morocco
Youssouf Hadji will be the team’s pillar in their goal hunting expedition and hopes of the team getting past the Indomitable Lions will rest on his shoulders in the absence of Marouane Chamakh.
PREDICTION
If the past outings are anything to go by, then Cameroon will definitely be the hot favourites, as recent history shows home and away aggregate wins over Morocco. Both teams are in a must win situation after losing their first matches.Any tactical blunders from either tactician will credit the opponent and dent their team’s prospects irreparably. But if push comes to a shove, Cameroon should stand tall over Morocco.
Cameroon 2 –1 Morocco
Goal.com
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