Cameroon will have three warm up matches at their Spanish training camp in the Mediterranean resort of Marbella, ahead of the start of the defence of their Cup of Nations title in Tunisia.
The Indomitable Lions have an outing against a local amateur side on Friday before facing Swiss first division side FC Zurich on Sunday and finally Spanish third division side Marbella on Tuesday.
« We’ve been training very hard for the last few days and this will give everyone a chance to play against some different opponents, » Schaefer said.
Schaefer has already got his starting line up in mind for the Indomitable Lions’ opening match against Algeria in Sousse on 25 January, and was happy to reveal who will be his main strike force.
« I’ll have Samuel Eto’o and Mohamadou Idrissou up front and then drop in Mboma as a joker if either of them are tired.
« I also have Pius Ndiefi on hand and he’s very strong, » added Schaefer.
Mboma and Ndiefi were Eto’o’s partners throughout the Lions’ successful campaign in Mali, but they have since been supplanted by Idrissou, who plays his football in Germany’s Bundesliga for Hannover 96.
Schaefer said that relations have been completely restored with the 33 year-old Mboma.
« In fact, while we have been in Marbella, we have been jogging together on our own at 8 o’clock in the morning.
« Patrick knocks on my door and shouts, coach it’s time to go, » smiled Schafer.
Schaefer also said that he was not worried about the lack of first team opportunities at English giants Manchester United for his battling midfielder Eric Djemba Djemba.
After their opening game with Algeria the Indomitable Lions will play Zimbabwe and Egypt in Group C of the Nations Cup.
By Phil Minshull, Marbella
