The head coach of the Intermediate Lions of Cameroon Alioum Saidou, has made public his list of 30 players preselected for the 2023 TotalEnergies African Nations championship.
44-year-old Alioum Saidou, who was part of Cameroon's squad at the 2006 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, will be leading the intermediate lions to their Fifth CHAN participation, when the competition kicks off in Algeria on January 13.
The tactician on Saturday December 10, made public his provisional list, which is dominated by players of Cameroon Elite one side Cotonsport FC of Garoua. 10 players have been selected from the Cotton weavers, who won a domestic double this season and are into the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF champions league.
World cup star Jerome Ngom Mbekeli, who provided the assist for Vincent Aboubakar's late winner against Brazil, has also made the cut, alongside 22-year-old forward Souaibou Marou, who was also part of Cameroon's world cup squad.
Experienced fullback Thomas Etta Bawak of PWD Social Football Club of Bamenda, has made a comeback into the team and will be vying for his third CHAN participation, after he featured in the 2016 and 2018 editions.
Just two players, Felix Oukine and Valentine Beo Batto, who were part of Cameroon's squad during the last edition on home soil, have maintained their spots.
Alioum Saidou will have a contingent of youngsters to count on, with the likes of midfield metronome Kaiba Djawal, defense kingpin Che Malone Junior, Eno Yves Brawdon, Patient Wassou and Harrison Djonkep, tipped to be the future of Cameroon football.
Cameroon overturned a one goal deficit in September, to beat Equatorial Guinea 2_1 on aggregate thanks to goals from Kaiba Djawal and Souaibou Marou to book a ticket for Algeria. The intermediate lions who finished fourth in the last edition, have been drawn in Group E alongside Congo Brazzaville and Niger.
Cameroon will play their first match of the Competition on January 16, against Congo, at the Oran Olympic Stadium - Miloud Hadefi, and will end the group phase against Niger on January 24.
Since inception in 2009, Cameroon has only missed two editions of the competition (2011 and 2014), with a fourth place finish in 2021 being their record best.
Alioum Saidou's squad is made up of four goalkeepers, nine defenders, 10 midfielders and Seven forwards. Seven other players have been drafted in a waiting list, and can be called in if need be.
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Kibyen Leonel (Bamboutos FC), Mbahbi Marcelin (Gazelle FA), Mbaynassem Jourdain ( Canon Yaounde), Hecube Wislow (Fauve Azur Elite)
Defenders: Haouzifi Youssoufa (Cotonsport), Ibrahim Abba (Cotonsport), Thomas Etta Bawak (PWD of Bamenda), Boubakari Dairou (Cotonsport), Alexandre Fred Benga (Astres), Che Malone (Cotonsport), Donatien Tchami (Bamboutos FC), Ibrahim Saidou( Fauve Azur Elite), Moukoko Yves Alain (Canon)
Midfielders: Ngom Mbeleki Jerome (Colombe), Felix Oukine (Cotonsport, Zemba Martial (APEJES), Mbah Louis (Eding Sport), Sime Prince Junior (Eding Sport), Djawal Kaiba (Cotonsport), Eno Brandon (Cotonsport), Beo Batto (Colombe), Avon Ebong Arthur (Fauve Azur), Iyendjock Joseph (Union Sportive of Douala)
Forwards: Harrison Ford Djonkep ( Eding Sport), Marou Souaibou ( Cotonsport), Ramses Donfack (Cotonsport), Guy Eyike (Union Sportive of Douala), Emmanuel Beken (Fovu of Baham), Patient Wassou (Cotonsport), Kemajou Junior (Bamboutos FC)
Waiting List
Franck Baho (Cotonsport), Djoufack Brandon ( Bamboutos FC), Goni Ali (Cotonsport), Yannick Noah (Dragon FC), Joel Patten (Union Sportive of Douala), Roche Foning (Union Sportive of Douala), Samuel Somb (Eding Sport de la Lekie)
