After two defeats, some of the players can hardly carry their heads up.

It is 10 a.m in Espirito Santo, 2 p.m in Yaounde. We are in front of the Lion’s Shereton Hotel where a precarious calm prevails. Though the road blocks mounted on both sides of the road since the arrival of the Indomitable Lions are still there, the ups and down, often witnessed at the entrance of the hotel have drastically reduced. A handful of supporters usually found at the entrance clad in the national colours are nowhere to be found.

To get access into the hotel’s reception room, one must go through security checks and questioning. While in, apart from a smile from the beautiful Shereton hotel hostess, the few Cameroonian officials there are not in the mode to receive anybody not to talk of journalists. Attempts to move up where the Lions are, were not only fruitless, but considered an offense because instructions have been given not to allow any journalist said to be “intruders” approach the players.

Away from the hotel, the atmosphere at their training ground in Vitoria, was not also festive. Apart from a few discussions among Cameroonian journalists and their compatriot from other countries on why the Lions did put up a very poor show during their first two outings, and the shifting of the Lion’s training session from 10 a.m to 4 p.m without prior notice, the atmosphere in addition to the cold weather continued to be morose.

The conviviality among Cameroonians has ebbed way. A few who come to the training ground with Lions t-shirts now abandoned in their hotel rooms for fear not to be associated with the defeat and fighting. On the field of play, the usual jokes, laughs and songs that characterize the Indomitable Lions training is absent. Even the jogging exercise round the field was done in total silence as if they were in primary school.

While physically some of the players looked dejected, others avoid looking towards the press. Some of the players who even monster courage to greet one or two friends around only gave them appointments back home…”Gars l’heure est grave rendez-vous au kamer”.