World Cup 2022 Team Preview - Cameroon

Cameroon's odds to win the World Cup

250/1

Best World Cup

Quarter-final 1990 

2018 World Cup

Did not qualify

Cameroon's World Cup Schedule

• Read a full Group G summary here

Road to Qatar

Five wins from their six qualification games helped Cameroon top their group and see off the strong challenge of the much-fancied Ivory Coast. That earned a playoff spot against Algeria, and with both teams winning 1-0 away from home, the second leg in Algiers went to extra time. When Algeria added a second with two minutes left, Cameroon looked dead and buried, but a dramatic winner four minutes into stoppage time broke Algeria's hearts and sent Cameroon through in thrilling fashion on the away goals rule.

Recent form

Since their dramatic qualification, Cameroon have suffered indifferent form that does not bode well for such a challenging World Cup group.They did beat Equatorial Guinea in early September, but subsequent defeats at the hands of South Korea (0-1) and, more worryingly, Uzbekistan (0-2) suggest that confidence will be at a low ebb ahead of their trip to Qatar.

Cameroon squad

Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy (Abha Club), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Marseille), Andre Onana (Inter Milan).

Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Enzo Ebosse (Udinese), Collins Fai (Al Tai), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Nicolas Nkoulou (Aris Salonika), Tolo Nouhou (Seattle Sounders), Christopher Wooh (Rennes).

Midfielders: Martin Hongla (Verona), Pierre Kunde (Olympiakos), Olivier Ntcham (Swansea City), Gael Ondoua (Hannover 96), Samuel Oum Gouet (Mechelen), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli).

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nassr), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenhua), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Bayern Munich), Souaibou Marou (Coton Sport), Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford), Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys Berne), Jerome Ngom (Colombe Dja), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Besiktas), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys), Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon).

Team insights

Probable formation: 4-4-2 Without being blessed with the household names that proliferate their more illustrious rivals, Cameroon boss Rigobert Song will call on the resilient team ethos that saw them overcome the challenges of Ivory Coast and Algeria in qualifying. A compact 4-4-2 line-up is designed to be difficult to break down out of possession, while enabling quick transition into attack when on the ball. Much will rely on the top -flight experience of Napoli's Andre Anguissa and Lyon's Karl Ekambi to break up play in midfield and supply the attacking outlet of Vincent Aboubakar, Brenford's Bryan Mbeumo and Bayern Munich's Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting, any or all of whom could prove a handful for any defence if given sufficient service.

World Cup prospects

The Indomitable Lions will do well to live up to that nickname given the strength of the opposition they will meet in Qatar. Faced with the prospect of a final game against Brazil, they will surely need at least a win and a draw from their first two games against Switzerland and Serbia if they want to finish above both of those teams in what looks like a very demanding group. If they do so, they are likely to meet Portugal or Uruguay in the next round, but reaching that stage might be the limit of their realistic expectations. Best hope: a good showing in their group games

Read more about each of Cameroon's Group G opponents:

Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia