Head Coach: Winfried Schäfer

» Alioum Boukar G
» Idriss Kameni G
» Jacques Songo'o G
» Raymond Kalla D
» Lucian Mettomo D
» Pierre Njanka D
» Pierre Wome D
» Rigobert Song D
» Nicholas Alnoudji M
» Eric Djemba Djemba M
» Joel Epalle M
» Marc Vivien Foe M
» Joseph-Cyrille Ndo M
» Daniel Ngom M
» Geremi Njitap M
» Salomon Olembe M
» Bill Tchato M
» Samuel Eto'o F
» Joseph-Desire Job F
» Patrick Mboma F
» Pius N'diefi F
» Patrick Suffo F

GET FULL PLAYER CARDS IN OUR GAME TRACKER

Patrick M'Boma: M'Boma is a powerful forward combining aerial strength, athleticism and a wicked left foot. He was voted African Footballer of the Year in 2000 and is a proven goal-scorer in the top European leagues and at the international level.

Lauren Etame-Mayer: Etame-Mayer was a standout at Arsenal this past year, helping the London-based club to win the English Premier League title and the FA Cup. He's a versatile midfielder who can also play right-back.

Samuel Eto'o: Eto'o is an explosive striker who uses his speed and unpredictable bursts of acceleration to beat defenders. He has a wealth of first-team experience, having played in Spain for Real Mallorca.

Roger Milla: Milla was a major star at the 1990 World Cup, scoring four goals and helping Cameroon to become the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals. Milla became the oldest player to score in the tournament when at age 42 he scored against Russia in the 1994 World Cup.

Thomas N'Kono: N'Kono was one of the best goalkeepers at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, holding Peru, eventual winners Italy and semi-finalists Poland to draws in the first round. N'Kono was named African Player of the Year in 1979 and 1982.

Scouting Report

Style of play: Creativity, inventiveness and speed are the hallmark of Cameroon's style of play. Coach Winfried Schafer employs an attacking 3-5-2 formation, with the wing-backs making bristling runs up the flanks, and the midfielders sending balls deep to the two strikers. Cameroon begins its attack from the wings with ball carriers cutting inward and running directly at their opposition. This usually draws a cluster of defenders into the centre of the pitch, opening up a lot of space for Cameroon's strikers down the sides and allowing them to get into scoring position unmolested.

Strengths:
Coaching -- Since taking over the team last September, German Winfried Schafer guided Cameroon to victory in the finals of the African Nations Cup in February. Schafer is a tactically astute coach who hands out clear assignments to his players and has Cameroon playing together as a team.
Attacking options -- Cameroon won't have problems scoring goals, as Schafer has several sure-footed forwards and strikers to choose from. Patrick Mboma is fast, powerful and is strong in the air; Samuel Eto'o is a quick, creative striker, and Pius Ndieffi is a deft ball-dribbler with an excellent first touch.
Speed -- Cameroon has speed at every position. The wing-backs use their pace to make dangerous runs up field, while midfielders are quick in beating opposing players to loose balls. The strikers and wingers are similarly fleet of foot, expert at making direct runs towards the penalty area and breezing by opposing defenders.

Weaknesses:
Goalkeeping -- Serious questions still linger about the ability of Alioum Boukar. Critics feel that despite his physical tools, he lacks technical sharpness. Thirty-six year old backup Jacques Songo'o has struggled with injuries this past year and looked shaky in recent appearances for Cameroon.
Overconfidence -- Cameroon are the undisputed kings of African soccer, but sometimes they fall into the trap of believing their own hype. Cameroon's success in Africa, where a lot of nations have neither the money nor the resources to compete, has a way of giving the team a false sense of security heading into a talented pool of teams at the World Cup.
Discipline -- When they're trailing, Cameroon begins to play a very physical and undisciplined brand of soccer. Frustrated players make lunging, rash tackles and they concede far too many free kicks from dangerous areas on the pitch.

Key injuries/omissions: Patrick M'Boma is suffering from a series of minor injuries, but will be able to start for Cameroon…

Outlook: Cameroon is an eclectic team, boasting a mix of wily veterans and exciting newcomers. In German Winfried Schafer, they have an experienced coach who has managed to tighten up the defence (forever Cameroon's Achilles heel). After bowing out in the first round of the past two competitions, Cameroon will be looking to advance to the quarter-finals this time around. With Germany dealing with a rash of injuries and playing below par as of late, Cameroon will topple the Republic of Ireland (which sent home its best player, Roy Keane) and an overmatched Saudi Arabia to finish atop Group E. Reaching the quarter-finals will be tough, since potential opponents in the second round include Spain and Paraguay (if Cameroon finishes second in Group E) or any of the teams from the "Group of Death" (if it wins Group E).

The Country

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Capital: Yaounde

Area: 475,440 sq km

Population:15,421,937

Government type: Unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990).

Climate: Varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Ethnic groups: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%.

Religions: Indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%.

Languages: Twenty-four major African language groups, English (official), French (official).

History: The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon united in 1961 to form the current country. Cameroon has enjoyed stability the past four decades, which has allowed for progress and the growth of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Political power is held by an ethnic oligarchy.

Bob Lenarduzzi

This really is an interesting group because there are so many variants and variables involved. Germany has history and they have tradition, but they don't have a good squad of players right now.

The (Roy) Keane thing could be a positive for (Ireland), because based on the fact the rest of the players are unified in not wanting him there, I think that speaks volumes. Ireland is not dependent on one player; they work as a group, and this will pull them even more together.

I don't think Saudi Arabia has enough to get to the next round.

Cameroon is an enigma. They could be good, or they could be crap. I hope they're great because I think the World Cup needs countries that play with the reckless abandon they play with. From a spectator point of view, you hope they get out of this group.

Prediction: 1) Germany 2) Cameroon

Jason de Vos

This is a really tough group to call. Germany lacks pace at the back. They're struggling with injuries, and they don't have the same strength and depth that they used to have. But, it's still Germany, and that works in their favour, that tradition and history they have. When push comes to shove on the big stage, they'll pull it together.

Cameroon's coach has come in and really stressed that they have to be responsible defensively. That's always been the knock against Cameroon, is that they play fire-engine soccer and in their desire to play an attractive offensive game, they sometimes completely neglect what they have to do at the other end. They really have to be sensible about how they go about things. Offensively they have some very good players, and if they can pull it all together and cut out the silly mistakes at the back, they could win this group.

That being said, they are an enigma, and they could very well find themselves going home on the first plane depending on how they begin the tournament. I think the first game against Ireland (CBC, June 1, 3:30 pm Local) is crucial. If they can win that game, I think they will have set themselves up quite well.

The whole Roy Keane thing is a massive story, no matter how you look at it. The fact that (the Irish) team have all signed a letter stating they don't want him back, it's very interesting. The team seems unified in his absence. The question is whether that unity and team cohesiveness will be enough to get them through. I don't know that it will. I think a lot of that is going to hinge on that first game against Cameroon.

I don't see Saudi Arabia progressing beyond the opening group. They may pick up a point and alter the outcome of the group that way, but as for progression, I don't think it will happen for them.

Prediction: 1) Cameroon 2) Germany

Federation founded: 1962

FIFA member since: 1962

Current FIFA Ranking: #17

First round matches:
June 1 vs. Republic of Ireland in Niigata
June 6 vs. Saudi Arabia in Saitama
June 11 vs. Germany in Shizuoka

2002 qualification route: Cameroon finished in first place in Africa Group A ahead of Angola and Zambia.

Record in qualifying: 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss
Goals for: 14 Goals against: 4

Qualifying results:
Libya 0 Cameroon 3
Cameroon 3 Angola 0
Togo 0 Cameroon 2
Cameroon 1 Zambia 0
Cameroon 1 Libya 0
Angola 2 Cameroon 0
Cameroon 2 Togo 0
Zambia 2 Cameroon 2

Number of previous World Cup appearances: 4

All-time record: 14 GP -- 3 W, 6 D, 5 L Goals for: 13 Goals against: 26

World Cup History:
1930 to 1966 – Did not enter
1970 to1978 – Did not qualify
1982 - First round
1986 – Did not qualify
1990 – Quarter-finals
1994 - First round
1998 - First round

Biggest victory: 2-1 vs Romania in 1990 and 2-1 against Colombia 1990.
Biggest defeat: 1-6 vs Russia in 1994.
Overall top scorer: Roger Milla, five goals.
Most appearances: Francois Omam-Biyick, 11 matches.
Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals, 1990

Past Achievements:
African Nations Cup Champions: 1984, 1988, 2000
Olympic Champions: 2000