It's the eighth straight World Cup defeat for the Indomitable Lions, who lost to a goal by Cameroon-born striker Breel Embolo, and remain stuck in the starting blocks, as Brazilians and Serbs s face off in the evening.

The "Nati", she remains in the race.

In the next match "against Brazil, we may have to defend a little more, but this victory gives us confidence", relishes coach Murat Yakin.

Embolo, a Yaoundé-born Bâlois, celebrated his goal as modestly as possible, raising his arms to the sky in celebration, palms forward in apologies.

This goal owes a lot to the former Nati: a shift from Granit Xhaka to Xherdan Shaqiri, whose perfectly adjusted center back found the scorer for AS Monaco (48th).

"Maturity"

"We played with a lot of maturity", observes Yakin, "we are a team which knows each other well, which has played together for a long time".

But the Cameroonians can blame themselves much more than Embolo for having missed their chances in the first period.

Murat Yakin, the coach of Switzerland, after his victory over Cameroon at the World Cup on November 24, 2022 at the al-Janoub stadium in Doha Fabrice COFFRINI AFP

The Lions created the first chances, behind right-back Silvan Vidmer.

But Bryan Mbeumo set the target incorrectly (10th) and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting was caught by Manuel Akanji (14th).

Then Martin Hongla was countered by Yann Sommer (30th).

The Cameroonian attackers did not have the efficiency of their glorious elder Roger Milla, honored before kick-off as the oldest scorer in the history of the World Cup by the President of Fifa, Gianni Infantino.

Milla dazzled the 1990 World Cup with four goals, and scored a last goal at 42 in 1994.

The last scorer for the Lions in the World Cup remains Joël Matip, who briefly equalized against Brazil (4-1) in Brasilia in 2014, before another defeat.

Embolo against his native country

Switzerland has long remained inoffensive, dangerous especially on set pieces, with heads from the hinge on corners, Nico Elvedi (40th) then Akanji (45th + 1).

Murat Yakin's 4-2-3-1 centre-forward Breel Embolo, who played against his homeland, was physically outplayed by central hinge Nicolas Nkoulou-Jean-Charles Castelletto.

The Nantes player notably managed a superb and risky tackle to remove a goal ball from the Swiss striker (40th).

Nicolas Nkoulou, the defender of Cameroon, against Switzerland in the World Cup on November 24, 2022 at the al-Janoub stadium in Doha Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV AFP

On his left side, Bryan Mbeumo in particular missed his match, as if impressed by the event.

Clearly dominated in the first period, the Swiss struck as soon as they returned from the locker room.

They had a KO ball by Ruben Vargas, but André Onana managed a magnificent save (66th).

After Embolo's goal, the Cameroonians were hardly more dangerous, like the other African teams.

While Asia shines with the victories of Saudi Arabia over Argentina (2-1) and Japan over Germany (2-1), the representatives of CAF have still not scored a single goal in Qatar, while waiting for Portugal-Ghana (5:00 p.m.).

The Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri taken by the Cameroonian Nicolas Nkoulou in the World Cup on November 24, 2022 in Doha Glyn KIRK AFP

Cameroon still enjoy a huge sympathy rating since Milla's dance steps at the corner post, but they have only won one World Cup match since that time.

It was in 2002 against Saudi Arabia (1-0), with a goal from the current president of the Federation (Fécafoot), Samuel Eto'o, who put a lot of pressure on his team by speaking to win the World Cup.

We should already finally win the next match, Monday against Serbia...

© 2022 AFP