Cameroon have no room for error
Cameroon must honour their status against Cape Verde on Saturday in the final round of Afcon 2013 qualifiers in in Praia, kick-off at 7pm CAT.
The four-time African champions who were absent from the last edition in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea have a lot to make up for, and will have no more excuses against the minnows of these qualifiers.
The Indomitable Lions went through without sparks against Guinea-Bissau in the previous round (2-0 on aggregate) and they will have to show an improvement to put themselves at ease starting with their first leg clash away against Cape Verde.
In the absence of Samuel Eto’o, who voluntarily retired from the national team after having purged his eight-month suspension, Olympique Marseille defender Nicolas Nkoulou will wear the captain’s armband, with Idriss Kameni and Alexandre Song having been appointed vice-captains.
Besides the former FC Barcelona and Inter Milan player, coach Denis Lavagne will be without the services of Schalke 04 midfielder Joel Matip, who was injured during his last Bundesliga outing.
But the Lions will be able to count on their miraculous striker Eric Choupo-Moting, who is having an outstanding year with the national team.
The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde easily outclassed Madagascar in the second qualifying round (7-1 on aggregate), but will have to play at 200% capacity if they hope to trouble the Cameroonians.
