After an initial training camp with 30 players, the coach of the intermediate lions, Joseph Marius Omog, established a shortlist of 18 players to defend Cameroon in the qualifier against the Republic of Congo next march 14. The shortlist players went into anther training camp last Friday but given the fact that players from elite one clubs had to regain their clubs for the 17th day of play, training in earnest is expected to begin today. 11 of the shortlisted players took part in the CEMAC cup in Congo-Brazzaville last December, while the others will be visiting the Massamba Debat stadium for the very first time. The Lions will leave Yaounde for Brazzaville on Friday, March 12. The lions aim to qualify for the final round of the competition, in the first round and are therefore gunning for nothing short of victory in Brazzaville.
Cameroon was absent from the first edition of the competition in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire. Contrary to the first edition when only eight teams took part in the competition, 16 teams will be participating in the final round of the tournament which is to take place in Sudan next year. Central Africa has three places and the manner of qualification is simple. After matches pitting Cameroon against Congo on the one hand and RD Congo versus Gabon on the other hand, the winners will qualify directly for the final phase of the competition whereas the losers will confront each other in a play off for the third position.
The African nation’s championship was introduced by the confederation of African football two years ago to serve as a platform for home-based players to ell their talents. The Democratic republic of Congo won the first edition of the tournament which took place in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009.
Cameroon was absent from the first edition of the competition in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire. Contrary to the first edition when only eight teams took part in the competition, 16 teams will be participating in the final round of the tournament which is to take place in Sudan next year. Central Africa has three places and the manner of qualification is simple. After matches pitting Cameroon against Congo on the one hand and RD Congo versus Gabon on the other hand, the winners will qualify directly for the final phase of the competition whereas the losers will confront each other in a play off for the third position.
The African nation’s championship was introduced by the confederation of African football two years ago to serve as a platform for home-based players to ell their talents. The Democratic republic of Congo won the first edition of the tournament which took place in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009.
