The quadruple champions of Africa,
the quarter finalist of the World
Cup in 1990, finalist of the Confederations
Cup in 2003, and gold medalists
of the Olympic Games in Sydney, the
Indomitable Lions of Cameroon rely
today on a few aging stars. The result
is that this team, which made the
whole African Continent dream more
than once, wins no more trophies and
its performances are more and more
average, despite its high position in
FIFA’s ranking.
This situation is a
matter of great concern to the sports
leaders who wish to launch an “operation
changeover” with young talent
shining in the world and very coveted
in their present countries of residence.
For example, Marvin Matip playing in
Germany and Aboubakar Oumarou
have been approached by China. In
the same way as other African associations,
Cameroon is looking after these
two pearls and is currently asking
FIFA to authorize a change of citizenship
for Marvin Matip, who has been
in practically all the national teams
in Germany in the youth category.
MATIP’S CASE The FECAFOOT
launches the naturalization procedure
Jule Nyongha, the coach of the Indomitable
Lions said: “It was, first of all,
a matter of ensuring the willingness
of the young Matip to integrate the
selection of Cameroon. During our
phone call, he shared his wish to come
back to his native land. Right now, it
is an administrative problem. With a
little goodwill this issue will be solved
shortly. His destiny is not sealed.
His naturalization will accelerate and
we have deposited his request to the
FIFA General Secretary in Zurich.
FECAFOOT is hoping for a happy
and quick ending of the dossier.”
DOUBLE NATIONALITY
Since the extraordinary Congress of
FIFA held last October in Doha,
Qatar, the article 15 on regulations
governing the application of the statutes
allows a player younger than 21
years old, having played at least one
official match in a national team to
opt for another national team. The
applicant must not have played in
an international match “A” with the
association he is changing for at the
moment of the request. Nonetheless
the players concerned can only make
one change of association. Many
African players have already benefited
from this new statute. For example
Frédéric Kanouté, Mohamed Sissoko
both have had one selection in the
young French Team and have received
the authorization from FIFA to play
in national team of Mali. The list goes
on -Algerians Anther Yahia, Abdenasser
Ouadah et Samir Beloufa, as
well as the Tunisian Adel Chedly.
This could also be the case of Marvin
Matip, in the following months or
even weeks.
ABOUBAKAR OUMAROU finds
“Way of the Dragon”
With his height of 1,84 m tall, Aboubakar
Oumarou has quickly become
one of the masterpieces of China’s
first division club Changsha Ginde
FC. Born on January 4, 1987, and
an ex-member of the Cetef team,
he has managed to find the “way of
the dragon” on the soil of the giant
of Asia which is trying to seduce
him for the coming Olympic Games.
“Abou Boban” as he is called by his
Douala friends is fast and aggressive
and has scored two goals and 6 key
passes. Coach Ratomir Dujkovic has
been seduced by the qualities of the
young Cameroonian. Dujkovic, Ghana’s
coach in the last World Cup and
current coach of the Chinese Olympic
team is ready to engage this native
from northern Cameroon for the 2008
Olympic Games. The new hope of the Changsha Ginde FC is close to
obtaining his Chinese passport and it
seems that “Abou Boban” could make
a decisive choice for his career in the
near future.
Camfoot.com: Would you like to play
for China?
Aboubakar Oumarou: Even if some
members of my family want me to
play for China, my heart beats for
Cameroon. It is my country and I
don’t want to play abroad. My agent,
Guy Djoukeng has advised me to play
for my own country. Meanwhile I continue
to make progress in my career.
Camfoot.com: How long have you been
playing in China?
Aboubakar Oumarou: I’ve been in
China for the last two years. Last year
I played in the second division before
being recruited by Changsha Ginde
FC. Before that I played with the AS
Cetef in second division, on China’s
coast.
Camfoot.com: Are you planning to stay
in Asia?
Aboubakar Oumarou: I’m fine here,
but I think that I need to explore
another high level championship. In
my team I have to give the best of
myself because there are not many
good players. The Chinese press was
quite impressed to see a young African
in first division because in general
they are at least 25 years old. I don’t
think I belong here. I’d love to play in
Europe. With players of this stature
and many more coming, coaches are
beginning to infuse new life to the
selection and with this, the Indomitable
Lions of Cameroon will certainly
roar over the continent and prepare
themselves for the World Cup in 2010
with much more ease.
AIPS Magazine
By Stephen Sunou (Camfoot.com)
