Cameroon coach Winfried Schaefer has named veteran striker Patrick Mboma in his provisional squad for the Nations cup finals – but there is no place for Lauren. Mboma, who is currently based in Japan, was included in the 31-player list.
The 33-year old veteran is a very popular star in the J-League and was invited by Schaefer for a friendly match against Japan last month.
The German boss of the indomitable Lions is currently trying to arrange warm-up matches for his squad, who will be defending their title for the second successive year.
Mboma was included despite reports that he will undergo surgery to correct a niggling knee injury at the end of the Japanese season.
10 players from the primary list are based in France while only 4 players are actually playing their football in the Cameroonian league.
Lauren is not in Schafer’s list
The 26-year old, who started his international career back in 1998, retired from international football in June 2002 following that year’s World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
Lauren was ignored despite his recent statement to BBC online in which he said there there is a possibility he would represent his country at international level again.
Middlesborough’s striker Joseph-Desire Job was another notable absentee from the list.
Cameroon are in Group B along with Algeria, Egypt and Zimbabwe at the Nations Cup finals, which start on the 24th of January in Tunisia.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Idriss Kameni (Le Havre – France), Eric Kwekeu (Bamboutos de Mbouda), Mathurin Kameni (Coton Sport), Amour Patrick Tignyemb (Tonnerre de Yaounde)
Defenders: Rigobert Song (Lens), Jean-Noel Perrier Doumbe (Auxerre), Pierre Njanka Beaka (Sedan), Thierry Gathuessi (Montpellier – All France), Bill Tchato, Lucien Mettomo (both Kaiserslautren – Germany), Timothee Atouba (FC Basel -Switzerland), Pierre Wome Nlend (Espanyol – Spain), Patrice Abanda Etong (Sparta Prague – Czech Republic), Falemi Nana (Steau Bucarest – Romania), Gustave Bahoken (Angers),
Midfielders: Modeste Mbami (PSG), Jean Makoun (Lille), Valery Mezague (Montpellier – all France), Geremi Njitap (Chelsea), Eric Djemba Djemba (Manchester United), Salomon Olembe (Leeds United – all England), Justice Wamfor (Genk – Belgium), Marcus Mokake (Canon Yaounde), Daniel Ngom Kome (Numancia – Spain).
Strikers: Achille Webo (Ossasuna -Spain), Achille Emana (Toulouse – both France), Mohamadou Idrissou (Hannover 96 – Germany), Samuel Eto’o (Real Mallorca – Spain), Joel Epalle (Panathinaikos – Greece), Pius Ndiefi (Al Ittihad – Qatar), Patrick Mboma (Tokyo Verdi – Japan)
Amr Shaheen
BBC Sport in Cairo
