CAN 2015 qualifiers:

Finke takes the gamble with youngsters

Eto'o, Song, Makoun, Chedjou, Ekotto, Itanje…expelled

By Amindeh Blaise Atabong in Yaounde

Indomitable Lions’ coach, Volker Finke has made a major overhaul to the national football squad, dropping 13 players from the team that made a disgraceful outing to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The German-born trainer who has been maintained as Cameroon’s national coach despite recording the worst showing in Brazil has opted for youngsters in the build-up to the 2015 African Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifiers.

Cameroon faces DR Congo in Kinshasa on September 6, in their opening game and will play host to the Elephants of Ivory Coast, four days later, in their second outing. Their other group opponent is Sierra Leonne. 

Noticeably absent from the list of the 25-man squad that was made public over the weekend are the Indomitable Lions’ captain, Samuel Eto’o Fils, Jean II Makoun, Alexandre Song, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Aurelien Chedjou, Charles Itanje and Achille Webo.

Explaining why he dropped thirteen of the players who took part at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Coach Finke said: “We also have to change the spirit of the team; we have to change the mentality of the players”. Finke has further justified that he has to look towards the future, especially after the debacle in Brazil.

Finke said he was looking for young players with potential and is keen to give local players, from the Cameroonian championship, a chance to prove their worth.  "This is the moment, now we have to make a break because there are 16 or 17 players who just played at the World Cup for a second time, having played in 2010 and now 2014. During both instances, there were performances we could not accept. They were not good performances. This is why this is the moment it has to change".

Eto'o has been without a club since being released by Chelsea at the end of last season and his absence was not unexpected as he has not played since his one appearance at the World Cup finals against Mexico in Natal. The 33-year-old striker, who led the controversial strike over wages that delayed Cameroon's trip to Brazil in June, had previously said he would like to add to his 115 caps.

Midfielder Alex Song is out on suspension after elbowing Croatia's Mario Mandzukic in the back during the World Cup while defender Henri Bedimo was injured in Europa League action for Olympique Lyon earlier this month. Also left out was Benoit Assou Ekotto, who hit team mate, Benjamin Moukandjo during the 4-0 defeat to Croatia in Manaus.

Benjamin Moukandjo, who recently moved to Stade Reims in Ligue 1, is one of 10 players retained from the disappointing 2014 World Cup trip. Volker has also named eight uncapped players.

It should be recalled that The Guardian Post had in a previous edition, quoted a dependable source in the commission created by Prime Minister Philemon Yang to diagnose the problems that led to the poor performance of the Indomitable Lions at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as saying that a majority of the commission’s members were unanimous that the Lions’ captain, Samuel Eto’o Fils, Jean II Makoun, Alexander Song and Assou-Ekotto be expelled from the squad. The age-old conflict between Eto’o and Alexander Song is being cited as one of the major problems plaguing the national team. Makoun, it is being said, is reported to always be in support of all Eto’o’s actions.

The Guardian Post was told that the trainer, Volker Finke and the Lions’ captain, Samuel Eto’o Fils, Alexander Song and Benoit Assou-Ekotto were all interrogated by the prime ministerial commission. Reports have it that while Finke stormed the commission with a voluminous report on what transpired in Germany and looked apologetic, Benoit Assou-Ekotto was rather too full of himself, showed no remorse and gave the feeling that he had nothing to lose if asked to leave the national team. Eto’o, for his part, is reported to have put responsibility for the Lions’ shameful outing to Brazil at the doorsteps of the FECAFOOT Normalisation Committee.

Meanwhile, following is the complete list of players made public by Finke ahead of the September 6, 2014 match against DR Congo.

Goalkeepers: Pierre Sylvain Abogo (Tonnerre Yaounde), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Nancy), Joseph Ondoua (Barcelona)

Defenders: Frank Bagnack (Barcelona), Gaetan Bong (Olympiakos), Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Jerome Guiahota (Valenciennes), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Nicolas Nkoulou (Olympique de Marseille), Ambroise Oyongo (New York Red Bulls)

Midfielders: Enoh Eyong (Antalyaspor), Marc Kibong Mbamba (Konyaspor), Raoul Cedric Loe (Osasuna), Georges Mandjeck (Kayseri Erciyesspor), Stephane Mbia (Queens Park Rangers), Benjamin Moukandjo (Stade Reims), Landry Nguemo (Girondins Bordeaux), Edgar Salli (Monaco), Guy Christian Zock (Cosmos Bafia)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Schalke 04), Jean Marie Dongou (Barcelona), Frank Etoundi (FC Zurich), Leonard Kwueke (Rizespor), Clinton Njie (Olympique Lyonnaise)