Highlights: CAN 2024: Cameroon wants to use its elimination to prepare for the future. Despite the frustration of the defeat against Nigeria in the round of 16, the Cameroonians want to use this CAN 2024 as a springboard. “We are disappointed, angry, there is a lot of frustration. As I like to say, in this type of match the details make the difference today, they were not for us. It’s a young group that made some mistakes and I hope that they will come out of it stronger because for many players, it was their first CAN,” explained captain André-Frank Zambo-Anguissa.

Despite the frustration of the defeat against Nigeria in the round of 16, the Cameroonians want to look at the glass half full and use this CAN 2024 as a springboard to prepare for…

CAN 2024: Cameroon wants to use its elimination to prepare for the future

Despite the frustration of the defeat against Nigeria in the round of 16, the Cameroonians want to look at the glass half full and use this CAN 2024 as a springboard to prepare for future events.

Karl Toko-Ekambi and André-Frank Zambo-Anguissa at the end of the match lost 2-0 by Cameroon against Nigeria on January 27, 2024. AFP - FRANCK FIFE

By: Pierre Fesnien Follow

With our special correspondent at the Houphoüet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan,

It was not a rout, but Cameroon did not really shine against Nigeria either. Harmless against the well-established Nigerians, the Indomitable Lions did not put a single shot on target, worse, they almost handed the Super Eagles the opener in the 35th minute following an error by defender Oumar Gonzalez who lost the ball against

Victor Osimhen

's pressing .

Also read: The rankings, results and calendar for CAN 2024

“

We are disappointed, angry, there is a lot of frustration. As I like to say, in this type of match the details make the difference today, they were not for us. It’s a young group that made some mistakes and I hope that they will come out of it stronger because for many players, it was

their first CAN

,” explained captain André-Frank Zambo-Anguissa.

“

It is by making mistakes that they will grow
”

Despite everything, at a press conference, the Cameroonian coach preferred to look at the positive side of this evening, putting the defensive errors of his team down to the youth of his group. “

I have young players who are discovering. It is by making mistakes that they will grow. I remain convinced that we have a very good team. My players did what was necessary but we lacked experience and experience

,” assured Rigobert Song.

Because this is, in short, the message that the Cameroonians wanted to send: this failure will help them prepare for the future, Rigobert Song recalling that he was “

selector-manager

” of a group in “

reconstruction

”. “

On a sporting level, there is always better to do. If we didn't win it's because there's always better to do,

admitted Lions goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa.

There are things to remember and learn and for the next deadlines we will have made progress on that

.”

Read alsoCAN 2024: Nigeria puts an end to Cameroon's hopes and secures its place in the quarter-finals

Advancing his team will now be the number one objective of Rigobert Song who will not be able to hide behind the argument of the youth of his group for very long, he who has already suffered a lot of criticism from the press Cameroonian. Eliminated from this CAN, the Indomitable Lions will now be able to focus on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Their next match will take place in June against Cape Verde.

CAN 2024: Cameroon wants to use its elimination to prepare for the future

CAN 2024: Cameroon wants to use its elimination to prepare for the future

“

It is by making mistakes that they will grow
”

Trends 24h

Latest

CAN 2024: Cameroon wants to use its elimination to prepare for the future

CAN 2024: Cameroon wants to use its elimination to prepare for the future

“ It is by making mistakes that they will grow ”

Trends 24h

Latest

“

It is by making mistakes that they will grow
”