Cameroon suffering team selection chaos

Ohaneze · Post by **Ohaneze** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:22 pm

This is good news! We are not the only ones with team selection problems.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 385833.stm
Cameroon legend Roger Milla has revealed that the country's president has instructed him to look into the reasons behind striker Patrick Mboma's exclusion from the 2004 Nations Cup squad.

Milla, who is Cameroon's football ambassador and works at the presidency, told listeners about Biya's query during a radio phone-in programme which took place in Yaoundé.

"The president asked me to gather more information on the Mboma situation," Milla said.

"I have informed the minister of youth and sports [Bidoung Mpkatt], manager Winfried Schafer and other team staff about this matter."

Milla's disclosure pleased several fans who had joined the debate to urge Schafer to recall Mboma to the Indomitable Lions.

It is not the first time that Cameroon's president has directly intervened in national team selection matters.

Following public pressure, Biya put Milla into the 1990 World Cup team and subsequently ordered the inclusion of Milla, Paul Louis Mfede and Victor Ndip Akem in the 1994 squad.

Mboma had refused to play for Cameroon at last year's Confederations Cup, accusing Schafer of being unable to make independent decisions regarding team selection matters.

Cameroonians regard Mboma's inclusion as vital to their Nations Cup ambitions

But the rift between the two looked to have been settled when he played for the Lions in the Foe charity match on 11 November, as well as the subsequent friendly against Japan.

The decision to exclude Mboma from the Nations Cup team has been a source of great worry to fans in Cameroon, who feel it would be unwise to solely depend on the goalscoring form of Samuel Eto'o.

"Mboma is the only player for now who is sure to score goals, so he has a place in the team," one fan said.

Several Cameroonians believe the former African Footballer of the Year was dropped because some officials, including the sport minister, believe he is indisciplined.

Mboma has been in the country since 2 January but has kept a low profile, refusing requests from the media for interviews on the controversy.

In a separate development, defender Pierre Wome - also dropped from the Nations Cup squad - disclosed in a newspaper interview that Schafer told him the minister had ordered his exclusion from the Tunisia squad.

Schafer reportedly advised Wome to meet Mkpatt to discuss the matter.

omey2k4 · Post by **omey2k4** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:24 pm

Why should we happy for that?At the end of the day Cameroon has had 2 straight ANC trophies.We should get our acts together rather than rejoice that another team faces ourown kind of problem.

Its a Goal · Post by **Its a Goal** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:31 pm

With or without Mboma, Cameroun is still the team to beat in this ANC.

Ohaneze · Post by **Ohaneze** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:32 pm

Some on this forum act like Nigeria is alone in the world with our issues. This shows that we are not alone and that all hope is not lost. Despite our problems, we can still win. Cameroon has the same issues and wins, so why can't we?

RudeBoy · Post by **RudeBoy** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:40 pm

Good! The juju is working. They sold me good stuff

Buea · Post by **Buea** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:52 pm

omey2k4 wrote:Why should we happy for that?At the end of the day Cameroon has had 2 straight ANC trophies.We should get our acts together rather than rejoice that another team faces ourown kind of problem.

OMEY2K4,
You couldn't have said it beter. Tell me when Cameroon has never had incidence of this nature before a tornament. It will all be settled and Cameroon as usual will wear its game face and dare anyone to challenge them. Eagles you know better!!

omey2k4 · Post by **omey2k4** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 6:54 pm

Buea wrote:
omey2k4 wrote:Why should we happy for that?At the end of the day Cameroon has had 2 straight ANC trophies.We should get our acts together rather than rejoice that another team faces ourown kind of problem.
OMEY2K4,
You couldn't have said it beter. Tell me when Cameroon has never had incidence of this nature before a tornament. It will all be settled and Cameroon as usual will wear its game face and dare anyone to challenge them. Eagles you know better!!

Mumu i no ask u to support,ewu!

monkeypost · Post by **monkeypost** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 7:04 pm

omey2k4 wrote:
Buea wrote:
omey2k4 wrote:Why should we happy for that?At the end of the day Cameroon has had 2 straight ANC trophies.We should get our acts together rather than rejoice that another team faces ourown kind of problem.
OMEY2K4,
You couldn't have said it beter. Tell me when Cameroon has never had incidence of this nature before a tornament. It will all be settled and Cameroon as usual will wear its game face and dare anyone to challenge them. Eagles you know better!!
Mumu i no ask u to support,ewu!

Omey2k4,

To be honest you are right

why should we happy for that

eh!

Cross · Post by **Cross** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:06 pm

Small minds rejoice over others set backs...
When CMR silenced us in the Lagos heat (and at home) we had our best on the team, West, Kanu, Finidi, Baba, JJ.
If we have to take the crown then we should be ready to beat a settled CMR team.
I hope they rise above the selection crisis and come to the games with an indomitable team spirit.

ruff'n'tuff · Post by **ruff'n'tuff** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:09 pm

Every country with lots of talent to choose from are bound to go through this,one way or another.

Talk IT · Post by **Talk IT** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:20 pm

What amaze me about this article is the part where Wome said the coach told him his exclusion was an order from the minister

ruff'n'tuff · Post by **ruff'n'tuff** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:27 pm

Talk IT wrote:What amaze me about this article is the part where Wome said the coach told him his exclusion was an order from the minister

IF this is true, then it is A shame.

mlkama · Post by **mlkama** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:32 pm

We all have our problems. This is certainly not good news and we all hope that this mess can be resolved. Wome said more in an interview, criticising an SG as well for ostracising Alioum Boukar, and SOng for not taking enough responsibility for players' issues before the WC. Does that sound familiar?

ruff'n'tuff · Post by **ruff'n'tuff** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:40 pm

mlkama wrote:We all have our problems. This is certainly not good news and we all hope that this mess can be resolved. Wome said more in an interview, criticising an SG as well for ostracising Alioum Boukar, and SOng for not taking enough responsibility for players' issues before the WC. Does that sound familiar?

This is not encouraging for african football.Only in Africa that A

lawyer will tell A medical doctor how to treat A patient.

Larry Ashagbe · Post by **Larry Ashagbe** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:44 pm

omey2k4, Its a Goal,

Total agree with both of you.

okjazz · Post by **okjazz** » Sat Jan 10, 2004 10:45 pm

I dont see the ommision of Mboma as a problem. Schaefer probably has good reasons. Remember how Scolari was vilified for ommitting Romario from his world cup squad ? It turns out he was right. Romario was not what Brazil needed at the time and given his petulant behavior, he may havedestroyed team chemistry.