Cameroon is an emerging nation in the women’s game in Africa. Les Lionnes qualified for the Olympics for the first time in 2012, and followed that up by reaching the final of the 2014 African Women’s Championship for only the second time. Enow Ngachu is one of the most experienced managers in women’s soccer, and he’s constructed a team built upon a foundation of defensive stability and organization. There is a growing sense of belief on confidence within the Cameroonian camp based on their results the past few years, and they are eager to make a splash in their World Cup debut this summer.
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COACH
Enow Ngachu has been in charge of Cameroon since 2004, making him the third-longest tenured coach at this Women’s World Cup, behind Ignacio Quereda of Spain (since 1988) and Leonardo Cuellar of Mexico (since 1998). During Ngachu’s reign, Cameroon has twice finishing runners-up at the African Women’s Championship. He also led his country to its first appearance at an Olympic tournament, in London in 2012. “Our main objective will be to do better than we did in 2012 during the Olympic Games,” Ngachu told FIFA.com. “We know it’s going to be very tough for us, but (Group C opponents) Ecuador and Switzerland are also here for the first time, so there can be surprises.”
GROUP C SCHEDULE
June 8: vs. Ecuador in Vancouver
June 12: vs. Japan in Vancouver
June 16: vs. Switzerland in Edmonton
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Cameroon finished runners-up the 8-nation African Women’s Championship staged in Namibia last October. Cameroon topped its first-round group with a 2-0-1 record, before defeating Ivory Coast in the semifinals—a result that clinched a World Cup berth. Cameroon lost to Nigeria in the African final.
TEAM STRENGTH
Cameroon isn’t lacking for confidence and they have momentum on their side—they’re coming off an appearance in last year’s African Championship, and has won three international matches during the current calendar year. Goalkeeping and defence is an area of strength—led by goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom and defender Christine Manie—and were placed in a group that includes two other World Cup debutantes.
TEAM WEAKNESS
Cameroon managed to score just five goals in five African qualifying games, so this team isn’t noted for its offensive prowess and isn’t flush with many proven goal scorers at international level. If they go down in a match, they’ll have to open up a bit and that takes Cameroon out of its comfort zone.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Annette Ngo Ndom: She kept two clean sheets at last year’s African Women’s Championship and was voted best goalkeeper of the tournament. The 29 year-old only has a handful of caps for her country so she’s somewhat short on international experience. But she’s played professional in Slovakia, and is one of the bets goalkeepers in African women’s soccer.
BURNING QUESTION
Can they win by just playing solid defence? This is a side that is well-organized at the back—they only gave up four goals in the African qualifiers. But where are the goals going to come from? Who’s going to provide that spark up front if they fall behind and need a goal? Will their commitment to a solid defensive posture be enough?
PROSPECTS IN CANADA
Two of Cameroon’s Group C rivals, Ecuador and Switzerland, have never played at a World Cup. Neither have the Africans, but the draw could have been far worse. If their defensive tactics and style of play can keep them in games, and if they’re able to knick the odd goal, there’s every reason to believe they can advance to the knockout round as the second- or third-place team from Group C. But that’s as far s they’ll go, as they simply don’t have the depth and experience to go far in this competition.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
Cameroon has never qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. It will make its tournament debut this summer in Canada.