TUNIS, Jan 22 – Cameroon midfielder Eric Djemba Djemba says he will go into the African Nations Cup a better player for having joined English champions Manchester United. Djemba Djemba, a product of the Nantes youth academy in France, moved to Old Trafford last year after boss Alex Ferguson sought to bolster the United midfield.
« I’ve been there for six months, but it feels like I’ve been there for two years because it’s taught me such a lot, » the 22-year-old told a news conference on Thursday. « I’ve really made progress on a number of levels.
« I had some weaknesses that I wanted to overcome and my coaches, both at club and particularly international level, have appreciated what I’ve done.
« But I’m not going to stop there, » he vowed. « I want to keep going, and win myself a first-team place over there. »
The 22-year-old Djemba Djemba, who already has an African Nations Cup winners’ medal from Mali in 2002, believes the exploits of the Indomitable Lions were the key to his move to the premier league.
« I think it’s the national team that has really opened doors for me, » he said. « I’ve had a quiet a few good games with this team and I think that’s what convinced the manager to recruit me. »
Djemba Djemba is expected to be a key midfielder along with Salomon Olembe from Leeds United in the tournament in Tunisia, which kicks off on Saturday.
Cameroon, seeking an unprecedented third consecutive title, begin their defence in Sousse on Sunday against Group C rivals Algeria, before going on to face Zimbabwe and Egypt.
