The 25-year-old returned to the field on Sunday after battling a heart condition that ruled him out of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations

Cameroon forward Joel Tagueu has described his return to football as a victory after recovering from a heart ailment.

The Cruzeiro attacker made his first appearance in over five months as a 77th-minute substitute in his side’s 2-1 victory over Corinthians in the Brazilian top-flight on Sunday.

Tagueu was dropped from Cameroon’s squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a day before their campaign opener against Guinea-Bissau due to an “anomaly of an implantation of a coronary artery”.

His exclusion reduced the Indomitable Lions squad to 22 players as the country crashed out in the Round of 16 stage of the continental showpiece in Egypt.

Following his recovery from the battle against the heart problem, Tagueu described his return as a dream come true after various medical consultations.

“It’s been a very difficult moment for me. I’ve had to wait for a month to get a final decision on my situation,” Tagueu in his first public comments, per BBC Sport.

“I’ve had to consult several cardiologists across Brazil to get different opinions and I’ve been working with the best cardiologists in the country and I’m glad that everything went on well.

“Being able to play again is a victory and being able to suit up for my team is just like a dream come true.”

The 25-year-old spent last season on loan with Maritimo where he returned eight goals after 30 matches in Brazil’s Serie A.

Tagueu recalled his reaction to his omission from Cameroon’s 2019 Afcon squad and revealed how Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu and France’s Eric Abidal inspired his fight against the heart condition.

“I was shocked when I was dropped from the Cameroon squad for the Afcon in Egypt. But I was less anxious because the doctors were calm and said it was curable,” he added.

“But other players in the past like Kanu or Abidal have undergone surgery for other health issues and have continued playing so I’m not worried.”

Meanwhile, Cruzeiro team doctor Sergio Campolina said the club recalled the Nkongsamba-born forward because he is back in top shape after approval from two of Brazil’s most renowned cardiology institutions.

“The medical protocol with the Cameroon team is different and because recently they lost a player due to heart related complications, they decided to drop Joel,” Campolina said.

“We have assurances about Joel’s health so we’ve decided to recall him to the team and we’re happy with this decision.”

Source: Goal.com

Cameroon prospect Etienne Eto’o Pineda has explained why he will reject the advances of Spain despite being snubbed from the U17 World Cup squad.

The son of four-time African Footballer of the Year, Samuel, was omitted from the final squad that kicks off in Brazil this week due to a decree signed by the Cameroon President Paul Biya in September 2014.

It was agreed that the national U15 and U17 teams would be reserved for domestic-based talent only, which saw Eto’o and five European-based teammates in the camp sent back to their respective clubs.

While the Real Mallorca U17 captain failed to be included in Thomas Libiih’s final squad, he still made his intentions clear about where he international allegiance lies, in an interview with Kick442.

“I decided to come and represent the Under 17 Lions of Cameroon, I can’t lie to you Spain is also my country but Cameroon I really feel Cameroonian,” Eto’o said.

“My father achieved a lot with Cameroon and I will like to emulate or try to match his achievements with my country Cameroon.

“Yes, it is very difficult to handle this situation [being omitted] but I am very excited to be back with the U20, U23 and why not the senior team one day if God wants.

“The qualifiers of the U20 AFCON is the next possible event for me, I am very excited to play for Cameroon, though Spain is my country, for now, Cameroon is my choice.”

His father Samuel won two Africa Cup of Nations titles and is the all-time leading scorer with 56 goals 118 caps for the Indomitable Lions.

Source: Kickoff.com

Etienne Eto’o, the son of African football legend Samuel Eto’o, will not play at this year’s U-17 World Cup in Brazil after he was left out of Cameroon coach Thomas Libiih’s final 21-man squad.

Eto’o, along with Roma forward Barel Fotso, are in a group of Europe-based players who have not made the squad.

Eto’o, who is on the books of Spanish giants Mallorca, joined the reigning African champions for a training camp in Brasilia and scored in a friendly against local side Brasilians FC.

A decree signed by Cameroon’s President Paul Biya in September 2014 said that the country’s U-15 and U-17 teams should be reserved solely for players in domestic championships.

Cameroon coach Thomas Libiih had previously expressed concerns over the eligibility of foreign-based players for the U-17 World Cup in a letter to Fecafoot’s President Seidou Mbombo Njoya.

Libiih, a former Cameroon international who featured in the 1990 World Cup, has also left out five players from his 2019 Nations Cup winning squad.

The list is headlined by midfielder Steve Mvoue who captained Cameroon to their second continental title in April, eventually being crowned the tournament’s most valuable player.

In their second World Cup, the Cameroonians are pitted against Argentina, Spain and Tajikistan in Group E in Brazil.

During their first appearance at the U-17 World Cup in 2003 in Finland, Cameroon bowed out of the tournament at the first hurdle undefeated, playing an exciting 5-5 tie with Portugal in their last group game.

Senegal, Nigeria and Angola will also represent Africa at the 2019 global event in Brazil which runs from 26 October to 17 November.

Cameroon Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ekoi Manfred Mekumba(Best Stars Academy),Tiwa Yvan Lafont (Fondation Tafi),Beubap Mbiadjeu Jacques Bruno (EFBC)

Defenders: Nang Toni (AS Ngueng), Bere Laoumbo François (Oyili FC), Ndzie Mezama Fabrice (Fondation Tafi), Ze Essono Severn (Academy Ahala),Ngatchou Kamtchouang Ricky (AS Fortuna), Aoudou Moussa (Real Academy New Bell), Ngolna PATRICE (AS Milet)

Midfielders: Mvoue Steve Regis (Azur Star), Ben Hamed Ndongo (Dauphine Fc), Dibongue Kingue Gael (AS Milet), Medou Bella Marc Franck (APEJES Mfou), Daouda Amadou (Oyili FC),Onana Etoga Cyril Loic (Academy Hala)

Forwards: Yannick Noah (Sahel FC), Ismaila Seidou (International), Wamba Djuffo Leonel (AS Menoua), Nongoh Samuel Bakia (Dauphine of Douala), Eba Tchecegna Arnold Adrien

Source: BBC

Toni Conceicao began his reign as Cameroon coach with a goalless draw against Tunisia on Saturday evening at Stade Olympique de Rades.

The Carthage Eagles were preparing for the African Nations Championship qualifier against Libya and new coach Mondher Kebaier did not include experienced midfielders, Wabhi Khazri and Anice Badri.

Unlike Conceicao, Kebaier had already presided over two games since replacing French coach Alain Giresse, who led Tunisia to fourth place in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations – edging Mauritania 1-0 in his first game in charge but lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in back-to-back friendlies in September.

A little unknown Portuguese coach Conceicao succeeded Dutch legend Clarence Seerdof after a lackluster campaign at the 2019 Afcon finals, where they were booted out in the last 16 stage by Nigeria as defending champions of the tournament.

Conceicao made wholesale changes in his team, only keeping notable strikers Karl Toko Ekambi and Bassogog from the 2019 Afcon campaign.

The first stanza did not have much of the action in the last third for both sides but Tunisia were forced to make a substitution towards the end of the first half, as Ghilane Chaalali could not continue and he was replaced by Aymen Mohamed.

The Indomitable Lions were fired up after the break and they were awarded a penalty on the hour-mark, however Bassagog could not break the deadlock as he fired his spot-kick high and wide.

The sides made numerous substitutions in the latter phase of the game, which contributed to the lack of momentum and in the end the encounter ended all square.

Tunisia will take on Libya next week Friday in the CHAN first round, before opening their 2021 Afcon qualifiers campaign in Group J against the same opponent in November.

Source: Kickoff.com

Cameroon hired former Portugal international Toni Conceicao as its new national team coach. Toni put pen to paper in a deal that was made public by the ministry of sports.  António Conceição da Silva Oliveira, was given a two-year contract replacing Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf, who was fired after a second-round exit at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

However, a lot of tongues have been wagging following the manner in which the process was teleguided. Corruption that has eaten into the cultural, political and economic aspects of the Cameroonian life was in display.

The whole process was francophonized and undermined the pedigree of Cameroon as a football nation. Cameroon Intelligence Report can now reveal that no proper consultation was carried out and no vetting process took place under the direct supervision of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

Toni was reportedly ferried to Yaoundé on a private jet and lodged in a VIP apartment at the Yaoundé Hilton Hotel from where he met with Cameroon’s corrupt football officials and signed his lucrative contract that will see him operate from Europe and only travel to Yaoundé during international football matches.

The António Conceição da Silva Oliveira deal is understood to be everything including the paying of bribes to FECAFOOT officials in return for some European favours. It also involves a wide range of commercial deals that Cameroon football CPDM bureaucrats will enrich themselves.

French Cameroun corruption in football has in itself a many-faceted phenomenon and a nasty history which includes actors, initiators and profiteers, how it is done, and to what extent it is practiced. Both FECAFOOT and Mr Toni’s team are keeping the financial engineering of the deal like a nuclear secret.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde

The 30-year-old defender calls time on his international career having earned six caps for the Indomitable Lions

Cameroon and Gazisehir Gaziantep defender Jean Armel Kana-Biyik has retired from international football.

The former France youth international quits his African national team after making six appearances, the last being at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals when the Indomitable Lions drew 0-0 with Ghana.

In announcing his decision, the France-born defender said he needs to focus on his club career with Turkish Super Lig side Gazisehir Gaziantep, as well as paving way for upcoming players.

“After a long reflection, I’ve decided to bring an end to my international career,” BBC quoted Kana-Biyik as having announced on social media.

“I’m making way for younger players and I’ll focus on my club career. But I’m proud to have donned the prestigious Cameroon jersey with its rich history.”

He is the son of former Cameroon international defender Andre Kana-Biyik and has had previous club stints in France with Le Havre, Rennes and Toulouse.

Kana-Biyik might not have enjoyed a fluent international career, having quit the national team in 2014 after being snubbed for the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

He, however, came out of retirement and managed to feature at the 2019 Afcon in Egypt.

Source: Goal.com

Five-time African champion Cameroon has hired former Portugal international Toni Conceicao as its new national team coach.

Cameroon’s sports ministry announced Friday that the former right-back, whose full name is António Conceição da Silva Oliveira, was given a two-year contract. He replaces Dutch great Clarence Seedorf, who was fired after a second-round exit at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Cameroon will host the next African Cup in 2021, having last won the title in 2017 under Belgian coach Hugo Broos.

Conceicao made just one appearance for Portugal as a player but has managed a number of clubs in his home country and abroad, including three separate stints at Romanian side Cluj.

His first game with Cameroon will be a friendly against Tunisia on Oct. 12.

Source: Associated Press