CAN 2022: a Cameroon with a double face, between cohesion and division
During the match for the third place of the CAN 2022, between Cameroon and Burkina Faso, on February 5, 2022 in Yaoundé, at the Ahmadou-Ahidjo stadium.
© Pierre RENÉ-WORMS/RFI
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
5 mins
During the match for the third place of this CAN 2022, Cameroon first experienced a nightmare before turning the tide and overcoming Burkina Faso, Saturday February 5 in Yaoundé (3-3, 5 shots on goal at 3).
In this end of competition the Indomitable Lions have shown their good sides as much as their bad.
There is tension within the den, but also an undeniable desire for success.
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From our special correspondent at the Ahmadou-Ahidjo stadium,
We had felt, on Friday during the pre-small final press conference, how much Cameroonians were bruised by their defeat against the Pharaohs in the semi-finals of
CAN 2022
.
André Onana, the goalkeeper, did
not hide his dismay
and that of his entire camp.
The consequences were still clearly visible, Saturday, February 5, during a good part of the meeting against Burkinabè.
Totally irrelevant for more than an hour, Cameroon found themselves trailing 0-3, whistled by their public and on the brink of final sinking.
And then, when hope seemed to have gone for good, the Indomitable Lions came back to life, in a charged atmosphere, to snatch a victory synonymous with third place on penalties.
A success that does not erase the rest
Author of an error which led him to score against his camp before the break, André Onana then caught up by repelling the shot on goal of Burkinabè Ibrahim Blati Touré.
"
It's not easy to play a match like that, to be insulted and booed by your audience at home, in your city, your capital.
But it's football and you have to stay strong
, ”said the goalkeeper, who had found a smile with the bronze medal around his neck.
“
There are third places that exceed the first (laughs).
Winning as we did does not erase the disappointment, but it fills a void
, ”added the Ajax goalkeeper.
As a leader, Onana defended his selection.
“
The den has always been calm
”, “
this group is magnificent and lives well
”, “
we are serene, calm
”, he assured.
But there are reasons to doubt these words.
The Cameroonians, third in CAN 2022 after overthrowing Burkina Faso (5 shots on goal at 3, 3-3 after extra time).
© FMM/Pierre René-Worms
Just after the setback against Egypt, Vincent Aboubakar threw a chill by declaring at the microphone of Canal Plus: “
Everyone thinks of him and that n *** everything.
“It was a first glimpse of the flaws of the Cameroonian selection.
The next day, Toni Conceiçao, the coach, had modestly tempered these words by recalling that they had been pronounced in the wake of the match.
The Portuguese had also assured to have had a discussion with his captain.
Choupo-Moting, the break
But Toni Conceiçao, despite this third place, appears to be disconnected from at least part of his group, and in particular from a player: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
The question "
Is there a problem with him?"
was asked to the coach on Friday.
The technician replied in the negative.
Difficult, however, to still hold this same speech after this Cameroon-Burkina Faso.
The imbroglio around Choupo-Moting broke with the kickoff.
Announced holder and captain at first, the Bayern Munich player then disappeared from the score sheet.
He took his place in the stands, under the dumbfounded eyes of the spectators.
Rumors of a falling out with Conceiçao then began to run on social networks.
After the Indomitable Lions' victory, Choupo-Moting spoke and confirmed that he had indeed refused to play because of a problem with the coach: "
I told the coach that I couldn't play this match because I didn't feel well psychologically.
I came to help the team win the CAN.
The coach showed me that he does not rely 100% on me.
We played 120 minutes in the semi-finals and he didn't even let me in.
For me, it's a lack of respect.
I had to tell the truth to the coach.
I am very disappointed and very frustrated.
»
Cameroonian Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, in the background, in the stands during the Cameroon-Burkina Faso match, February 5, 2022. © Nicolas BAMBA - RFI
And to say that during this time, André Onana repeated that there is "
no Choupo case
", while Just Choupo-Moting, the striker's father, made it known that his son would never play under the orders of Conceiçao… Cameroon has not lost everything with this place on the smallest step of the podium of “its” CAN.
Honor is safe.
But there is trouble at the heart of the Indomitable Lions.
The latter, however, have no time and energy to waste with such stories;
at the end of March, they have on their program a capital double confrontation in the play-offs of the 2022 World Cup against Algeria.
It would be good to capitalize on the positive points to remember from this CAN and to resolve all these weaknesses which have affected the smooth running of the group.
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