Cameroon Defy The Odds

Indomitable Lions triumph to claim fifth title

- Mark Gleeson

Cameroon are no strangers to the winners’ podium at the African Nations Cup, but they were not supposed to be standing on it at the end of the 2017 tournament. 

A team in transition and turmoil going into the event emerged out the other end after three weeks as the new African champions, taking the title against all odds and for a fifth time.

Their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Egypt in the Final, in Libreville, was the culmination of a most unlikely march to the crown, with a squad that was mocked as being a “B team” after a vicious cull of key players in the year leading up to the tournament and then the last-minute defection of eight players who turned down call-ups.

The Indomitable Lions were only really supposed to be in a building phase ahead of their hosting of the 2019 finals. They now have the chance to build a side capable of dominating the African game over the next few years.

It was a classic case of a team entering a tournament without any burden of expectation, finding their feet slowly, riding their luck, taking their opportunities and ultimately proving fit enough to emerge on top after a rigorous three weeks.

Six games in the space of 23 days at the Nations Cup is a tough order by any standards, but in the humidity of central Africa it proved exceedingly taxing, and simple physical conditioning was often the dividing line between teams.

It could have turned out altogether different for Cameroon; indeed it may well have been embarrassing had they not shown some serious strength of character.