Interview: “It Is Not An Easy Pool For Cameroon”

Victorine Fomum, football coach, analyses Cameroon's chances in the 2016 Women's AFCON.

After several friendly matches and the release of the list of the 21 players for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, What are the chances for Cameroon in this competition?

The chances for Cameroon are very great and very wide. If you judge from look at the friendly matches that Cameroon played; six this far, four victories, one draw and one defeat it is a very positive report card. We know report card without an examination or report card for sequences in the week doesn’t make you a champion. So we are waiting for the final phase of the competition that starts on the 19^th of this month.

And I believe that the squad that has been in camp for eight different sessions and with the arrival of all of the professionals desired by the coach in the likes of Aboudi Onguene, Gaëlle Enganamouit Kaka and Nchout Hadjara tells us that Cameroon is in for another deal. Cameroon is hosting this Africa Nation’s Cup for the first time and the tenth edition. Jersey number ten in football is very important because it is the play maker and being a first timer we want to be the best.

The number one and ten is very important in the game of football and I want to believe that Cameroon will want to make its mark because we have the best goal keeper of the continent, Ngondom Annette, the best player of the continent, Gaëlle Enganamouit, the best coach of the continent, Enow Ngatchu.

The Indomitable lionesses will play in Pool A against Egypt, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Do you think Cameroon will be able to move to the second round?

Yes when you look at the stakes of Cameroon’s opponents. Egypt is a first timer, Zimbabwe beat Cameroon to get to the Olympics and South Africa is a regular in the competition. Cameroon is vice champion and the host. It tells you that it is not an easy pool for Cameroon. It is like the pool of death, no doubt, but then when you look at the aura that Cameroon has in football in Africa, taking after Nigeria and presently is one of the best after Nigeria it tells you that it has dominance on paper.

Practically, we had a number of friendlies that showed how prepared although the other countries will not be coming to have a shadow participation in the competition. Everybody wants to make a mark. Everybody wants to win. It is for Cameroon to remain concentrated, focused, disciplined and organised because all of that is what is going to make a difference. And again, we call on all the forces that be; former players, the public, students to come and support the players. It is only through this huge mobilisation that we can be able to make a d...