Samuel Eto’o missed a late penalty that would have given Cameroon victory over Senegal and keep the Central African nation’s slim hope of qualifying to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations alive. The game ended 0-0 and the Indomitable Lions look certain to miss the tournament to be hosted by their neighbours Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. But on a purely tactical perspective it was a promising display from Cameroon – their most attack-minded performance in a competitive match in a long while.
Cameroon’s head coach, Javier Clemente, kept his promise to send out a team focused on attacking its opponent from the start. The team included Benjamin Moukandjo, Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Samuel Eto’o who are all used as attackers in their clubs.
He organised them in a 4-2-3-1 formation (similar to the one used by Germany at the 2010 World Cup). Eto’o was the lone striker while the youngsters (named above) played as the “3″ behind him often interchanging positions. The shape gave the team width and penetration as the front four took turns to become de facto striker, “wingers” (cutting inside) or drop as a supporting striker (linking midfield and attack) given that the trio (Moukandjo, Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting) are all capable of unpicking opposing defences with ease.
The result was constant pressure on the Senegalese team from the first to the last minute of play; in a way Cameroon last did only in the 2006 Cup of Nations under Arthur Jorge and the early days of Paul Le Guen’s reign.
There were over a dozen corner kicks for Cameroon; not less than a dozen free-kicks at the edge of the Senegalese 18-yard box; and 7 clear goal-scoring chances (several of them one-on-one with the goalkeeper).
Sadly, the finishing was poor. Many of the shots were hit straight at goalkeeper Coundoul (who was preferred to (Calamity) Khadim Ndiaye).
Is it all about victory now?
MOVEMENT
The Senegalese have lashed out at the referee, who was far from excellent and gave a rather soft penalty to Cameroon. But the referee cannot be blamed for their complete tameness. Amara Traore had opted for a 4-3-3 which had a front three of Mamadou Niang, Issiar Dia and Moussa Sow. His intention was to have an extra man in midfield as opposed to the away leg in Dakar.
Yet, they were over-run by the movement Cameroon’s midfield 5 (if one includes the threesome that was supporting the attack) particularly the Enoh Eyong Tarkang and Landry Nguemo duet. Enoh sat deep mainly protecting his centre-backs while Nguemo peppered the Senegalese with hardworking box-to-box play that supported the attacking scheme set-up by Clemente (Aurelien Chedjou who was surprisingly left on the bench as a result of this formation, came on as a second-half substitute for Nguemo and added that penetration that was lacking in Dakar, as well).
The Senegalese had only one shot on target and it was from an off-side position.
Cameroon’s keeper, Carlos Kameni, was practically not seen throughout the encounter while his defenders - Amgwa Ossomeyong (RB), Nicolas Nkoulou (CB), Stephane Mbia (CB), Gaetan Bong (LB) – were rarely troubled. The full-backs (Amgwa and Bong) shuttled back and forth on the flanks to add with while Mbia had several opportunities to score with a header from Cameroon’s numerous kicks – but he hit the ball wide on many occasions.
The pressure, movement, passing, free-kicks and possession driven play from back-to-front came to nil because Cameroon were unable to score. A few fans got so bitter after the game that they attacked cars parked outside the stadium and clashed with security forces who tried to protect the players. It pains when a team doesn’t win and nobody wants failure. But there were positive lessons in that game which could serve as a great guide.
PROMISE
Beyond Eto’o and the penalty he missed – Saturday’s game was another preview of a promising new generation of Indomitable Lions. With the average age of the starting eleven being 22 (if you take away Kameni and Eto’o) there is a foundation for the emergence of another great pride of Lions (including the likes of Joel Matp and Salli Edgar), if they play under the guidance of a manager who is there to build and is not under pressure to produce immediate results (which politicians want to use as distraction).
“A manager (coach) can only make a difference if he has a club that backs him, that is patient, that gives confidence to players and that is willing to commit to long-term. And in any case that doesn’t just want to win, but to win convincingly,” Arrigo Sacchi, the Italian master tactician, is quoted as saying in Jonathan Wilson’s book: Inverting the Pyramid.
The mistake that has been made in the past and which was repeated after the World Cup in 2010 was to go for the short-term (or victory now and at all cost) approach. Authorities and the media didn’t accept that the Indomitable Lions were (are) a team under construction (in transition).
They went into witch-hunting mode, comparing generations passed and present, and mis-managing (or over-reacting to) tensions between players in the squad. Many were oblivious to the fact that Le Guen had unearthed talented but inexperienced players that had to mature and could not necessarily triumph at the World Cup or ride over the continent.
Upon the first hurdle (which was the 1-1 draw with Congo), the media and team administrators panicked and a chain of reactions has led to a collapse of what should have been a painstaking project.
An absence from the Africa Cup could turn to into an opportunity to build a solid and more conquering team. With less pressure to win a trophy, a good and passionate coach, discipline and better organisation, regular camps and sparring partners on every FIFA date available, the Lions would re-emerge as a force in 2012/13 in time for the World Cup qualifiers.
Wasn’t that the path that Senegal took after they were knocked-out of the race to the 2010 Africa Cup and World Cup tournaments?
The game of soccer is based on either the side to win and/or lose. Cameroonians must learn to embressed defeat equally as they have been enjoying victories. No empire it is often said reins forever. That Eto’o did miss a penalty is just part of the soccer jumboree. With reference to the previous scribers, its a truism that our national team needs undergo a fundamental surgry in order to regain its place under the sun of soccer. All the authorities need do is embark on meaningful search for problem solving, rather than obnoxious political witch hunt for selfish aggrandizement. We must underscore that the game of soccer has undergone drastic evolution. Therefore, Cameroonians must also follow the trend of events for the holistic interest of our great nation, Cameroon. The transition of leadership from General Song (senior), to General Eto’o, must not and shouldn’t be any reason as to why the Lions are undergoing very tough moment. As a suggestion, perharps, both “Generals”, ( Eto’o and Song ), should convoke a kind of man-to-man dislogue session gear at putting the Lion on the winning track. Afterall, people come and go, but the national team remains. Please donot accused me for a wizard, no, but, we must not also forget our football history. This scriber is not a prophet of doom, but certain pertinent stuff need to be expose if need be. To all lovers of football, the Lion shall bounce back once the right options are realise. ‘Un grand ne pas un petit, et ne sarai jemais’ .
Long Live Indomitable Lion
Long Live Cameroon
Uncle Luc,
Thanks for your contribution.
Mbappe,Nkono, Manga, Bell, Milla, Mfede, Omam, Mboma , Song Rigo (just to name few,) all came and left. Eto will not be the Sepp Blätter of the Indomitable Lion. We don’t need to make someone feels he is the owner of the Cameroon national team, Instead, the football authority should work hard to developed the youth talentpool of Cameroonians at home and abroad and more important favoritsm, corruption and marginalisation should be spare in such a process.
It is this same guy who almost leanched Wome Nlend because he missed a penalty at the same stadium that would have qualified Cameroon for a world cup. Today, he continues to desplay such arrogance and disrespect for his superiors and advisors. How is it that Eto’o explains that Maxim Chopo Moting to be replaced by the coach, was essential for a corner kick that Cameroon had to take. Eto’o is a great footballer, but he can’t play alone, and must take orders from the coach. This is exactly why the Barcelona coach kicked him out of the team.
I can understand why Eto’o thinks he is bigger than life and cannot take instructions. Because of his ego, and that of other players Cameroon has missed out on several occasions. Those who pay him at Barcelona could not take the disorder he brings to the team. But in Africa, his salary and wage has aloud him to grow his shoulders above his head and neck. This is exactly why important but also egocentric players like Achille Emana and Song Billong cannot stand idly by.
Imagine Eto’o after the South African debacle to write to the minister of sports saying Cameroon failed because of Kameni, Achiolle Emana, and Song. He absolve himself of any responsibility, and is interested in surrounding himself with amateur players who will worship him. Kameni, Song, and Achille Emana have all achieved football glory.
This is not to say that, it is comparable to the success that Eto’o has, but they believe individually that, they are good athletes. So, Eto’o goes to the press after the Cameroon game to blame problems in the national team to failure of people addressing them because according to him his salary is astronomical. This guy is the most egotistical human being i have come to know. Is this what has made him succeed this far, may be, unfortunately to the detriment of team football.
Even Roger Milla was on Eto’os cross hairs-described as a man whose career went no where. What an insult to the greatest soccer war house to have come out of the black continent. A man revered in soccer palaces and kingdoms around our “flat” flat. Captain Eto’o the game of football is team, not individual.
Until Cameroonians demand from Eto’o full throated apology and respect for the national team, he will continue in my opinion to be detrimental to our success going forward.
JINX I think from ur words u are “big headed” or may be u think u know everything abt that same team u are talking abt. I want to tell u that the first comment took no side and wrote constructively. Eto’o may be what u think but u shld try to be what u are ok. Cameroon National Team will be there whether u put blames on satan or Eto’o. Pple like u are are always disruptive. From ur words I know u can not even convene a family meeting in ur family but u stand out here to accuse pple of things u know nothing about. I pray that u shld always look at things from a optimistic way. I think u like stubborn and disrespectful players like the once u gave applause to wherein only Kameni can even boost of haven achieved something in the game of football for Cameroon. No doubt “pple like pple like them.”
Mr JINX.
You prove beyound doubts that you are an Eto’o hater. The truth is that you are a very jealous man. Eto’o's performance in all the matches has been outstanding. He’s not the cause of the present dicament of Cameroonian football. Please, you haters of progressive people, leave the boy alone. Eto’o left Barcelona, to Inter, the Coach has rebuffed all allegations that he was a dressing room problem. At Inter, Nobody has complained about him being a problem. He’s a professional of the highest esteem and the most decorated African footballer of alltimes. learn to carry his chair when it all matters.
Romove Bita from Power and you will see Cameroon’s management style changing and every corner and crane of the country’s mechanism will revitalize. Facafoot is death and as the writter of the article puts it, politicians put the team under pressure, looking for results that will boost their urgly motions of support to the imperor.
Eto’o is indisputatbly the best. Whether Alex Song accepts him as Captain or not, he will never make half a mile of Eto’o's achievements in the Game.
Jealousy poeple for Eto’o, leave the guy alone and never judge him. If you think he’s the problem, then go take his chance and qualify the Lions.
have a good day mr Eto’o hater
thank u ma brother people need not to be judgmental about issues they knw nothing about so pls if u have to say something about a person or criticize a person make sure u have substantial fact about that person.We should learn not to be obstinate in life this is to JINX,Cameroons team is facing transition at the moment so sooner than later we shall be enjoying the success of this transition
Mr Zao and Mr Martins;
This is exactly the problem with Cameroonians and the way Africans reason. First, Paul Biya is to blame for disconduct in our national team. Really, are you guys out of your mind? Why would evey problem in the country be blamed on Biya. If this is the way you guys reason, i cannot discuss any matter substantive with you guys. We all recognize Eto’os success as a player. But you mean, i have to worship and carry his chair? Are you seriouse, or just stupid. I recognize his success as a player, and i also know that-he can’t blame the problems of the past world cup on Song, Kameni, and Emana. You did not address this charge about hime blaming his team mates except himself. How about the fact that, he was on Wome Nlends neck after he missed the penalty that failed to qualify Cameroon for the world cup? Is this disruption and disrespect of his colleaques? In my opinion that is correct. But he misses a penalty in Yaounde and cannot find anyubody else to blame. To suggest that because i criticize Eto’o means ui hate him, and cannot convene a family meeting just goes to show how primitive and naive you guys are. I have cheered Eto’o before, and will continue to cheer him, but will also criticize him as necessary. I know whats going on in the team because he Eto’o syas it in public. He wrote a letter accusing the three players above of problems in the nationall team. That matter was public and not private and everybody could see. And for you guys information, Eto’o was a constant headache in the Barca dressing rooom, thats why he was shown the door. How else can you explain the fact that- after performing so well in both la liga and champions leaque, the coach decided to offload him and deem him surlus to requirement?. The only reason is because the guy was indisciplined and disrespectful. I understand why- his lack of proper education accounts for this. Money isn’t everything in life, which is why there are rich and uneducated people who lost everything because of their foolishness. It is this same Eto’o who removed his shoes and chased down a friend who worked with him. No doubt that is what goes on in Africa and you guys think it normal. Recently, i Nigeria guy who played for Chelsea in England faces jail time for assaulting a fan in public. Despite beiin g a good athlete, such disrespect for people is not tolerated in europe. Nobody is bigger than a group no matter how successful they are. Nobody, not even Eto’o is bigger than the team for which they play. Leonel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta are far better players than Eto’o, but you do not hear the arrogance coming from Eto’o from them. They are civilized gentlemen and Eto’o is not. That is why he will continue to be a hero in Africa, but will never be named best player in the world. To be best player in the world, athletism plus good manners count. Eto’o is a very very good player, but lacks the good conduct. This is enitrely my opinion.
Mr Zao and Mr Martins;
How do you guys come to the conclusion that because i criticism is synonymous to hate? What is really wrong with you guys? It is really disappointing to know there are people following others blindly. Please, educate yourself about issues before writing stupid things on the net. What Eto’o does i cannot, but what i do Eto’o cannot, and especially what i do is more noble and worthy to the society that what Eto’o does. What i do altimately benefits a majority of people in the world. And thats the essence of life, if you guys can ever in your life time undertsand what this means.
@ Jinx
wetti b the ting whe u di do? scamming?
my friend shidong quite rather than washing ur dirty lining in this market place. next time u post ur scribbles make sure u contruct good sentences and spell words in english, not pidgin. U can type in ms word, edit be4 posting. X-raying ur dullness intoto is a virtue only for the vicious. wonder if u got the eductation u are professing Eto’o should go have. Eto’o was the captain and according to any team regulation was suppose to submit a comprehensive report to the minsep. that report was suppose to be subjective and not objective. stop telling him how to think ‘cos u got no right. his skills and sharpness gave us the first Afcon in 2000 remember. at a tender age of 19 he won olympic gold again and his linking with Mboma was the perfect pairing we lacked until he surfaced. u want nail yi for cross now? Eto’o has been an advocate for african players in the diaspora for so long that u seem to forget too quick his struggles. with racism at a rife, he kept his cool and started wearing armband as a la ligua team captain way before any other african in Europe. play a record highest number of games for any foreign player in spain. a record that comes with humility. he was the first to earn a six digitt wage package be4 the toures and the drogbas. he has spoken out openly about racism and stand for the pride of being an african some thing faggots like Diouf who won accolades before Eto’o, Abedi pele and many more bantu pros shy away from. with Song or without Song, Emana or Kameni, he is the captain on merrit not acclamation. he got his weakness and u do not need to b paparazzi o shun him this way. if u do not know, John prescott, the former british deputy prime minister punch a man in the face infront of cameras. Bush was caught on camera telling Blair to authorise the military to blow up hizbollah. Nyamfuka. carry ur small mind hide for back keyboard the kosh Eto’o and telling us how u safe lives. Bad Beef.
We should support our team during the good and bad moments. The Cameroonian team is going through difficult times and rather making useless comments, we should stand as a bloc behind them and support them. It is true we have the right to point out the negative things in our team but we should do it cautiously.
We know there are problems in the Cameroonian team and the government is doing its best to solve them so that we can once more be proud of our team.
I agree with the fact that President Paul Biya cannot he held responsible for the failure of our team. That’s a very poor way of reasoning.
It is true we have been used to seeing our team always winning and making us proud and happy. Today our team is in difficulty and we need to support them and just be patient. Even the biggest teams in the world like Brazil and England are facing problems.
I don’t think Eto’o’s intention to spoil our team. Like any other Cameroonian he loves his team and is trying his best to have his team win most games but is not succeeding. Let’s stop comparing his success at inter Milan with his performance in the national team.
We need to make complains that will be constructive for our team and this in an orderly manner. We will not help our team get out of slumber with excessive reactions.