EVENTS
Sportsman of the Year
Heisman Trophy
Swimsuit 2001
CENTERS
Fantasy Central
Inside Game
Video Plus
Statitudes
Your Turn
Message Boards
Email Newsletters
Golf Guide
Cities
CNNSI.com GROUP
Sports Illustrated
Life of Reilly
SI Women
SI for Kids
Press Room
TBS/TNT Sports
CNN Languages
COMMERCE
SI Customer Service
SI Media Kits
Get into College
Sports Memorabilia
TeamStore
|
 |
Cameroon
Who can forget Cameroon's magical run at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where it beat Argentina, Romania and Colombia before falling to England in the quarterfinals?
There is no Roger Milla in the side anymore, but the African giants have given indications that they can put a similar streak together in Asia after becoming the first nation to qualify for the World Cup, outside of the co-hosts and defending champion France.
As the countdown to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan continues, CNNSI.com's Pedro Pinto will take a close look at all of the nations that will contend for football's greatest prize.
Pinto is an anchor on World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
 |
| |
 |
|
Cameroon has become the 14th most populous nation in Africa and 58th globally, with an estimated 15.5 million inhabitants as of the year 2000. Cameroon is a crossroads of environment and culture, where the desert meets the rainforest and nomadic pastoralists meet sedentary hunter-gatherers. Today, Cameroon has a developing market economy supported by vast natural resources, but hindered by widespread corruption and government mismanagement.
Provided by CountryWatch.com
|
|
 |
|
Cameroon has made its fourth straight World Cup -- the fifth overall -- unprecedented for an African nation. The year 2000 was formidable for the national squad, as it won the African Cup of Nations and the Sydney Olympic gold. So expectations for the World Cup are high in a country that lives and dies with its side's international results.
Maybe that is why there is so much instability on the sidelines, with coaches hired and fired incessantly. The new man in charge, German Winfried Schafer, is expected to lead Cameroon at least into the second round in Japan and South Korea.
The pieces are in place for the western African nation to succeed. They are strong physically and have most of their players enjoying their football in the world's top leagues. The question is, will Schafer be able to organize his side and unify them with one common goal?
|
 |
| |
 |
|
Patrick Mboma. At 31 years of age, the striker may be approaching the twilight of his career, but he is still the national team's inspiration. He has struggled to hold down a first-team place with Italian Serie A side Parma, but he knocks in the goals at will for his country. The pressure will be on Mboma to both score himself and create space for the side's other striker, Samuel Eto'o.
|
|
 |
|
As talented as the players are, they have always lacked a true master tactician -- a manager who could set a successful plan on the pitch. Is Schafer the answer? Probably not. When Cameroon concedes early goals in big competitions, it always struggles. It happened at the 2001 Confederations Cup. They need someone who can settle them down and implement structure in their game.
|
|
 |
|
| |
Defense. Captain Rigobert Song leads a back line that can at times be formidable -- and at others, permeable. They are powerful physically and can outrun most of the world's top strikers, but many times they are caught in possession and concede silly goals. Veteran Raymond Kalla will have to use his experience to nurture his younger colleagues if they are to succeed. |
|
 |
|
Cameroon played 10 games in its qualifying campaign. It sealed a place in the finals on July 1, earlier than any other nation, by beating Togo 2-0. The Indomitable Lions captured first place in their final qualifying group, winning six of eight games. Their only setback was a 2-0 defeat to Angola.
|
|
| |
This is the nation's fifth World Cup appearance. So far, it has played 14 matches in the finals, winning three, drawing six and losing five. They failed to advance past the group stages in 1982, '94 and '98, but made it to the last eight in '90.
|
 |
|
| |
Mboma, Song, Eto'o, Marc Vivien Foe, Geremi. All stars. But can they come together to form a successful side when the competition starts? I think so, if stability is maintained on the sidelines and behind the scenes. African nations are tired of dropping out early, and I believe that Cameroon has the best chance of surprising the world's top teams. If they stay solid at the back, anything can happen.
How far will Cameroon go in the World Cup? View Instant Poll Results
|
|
|
|
