By Washira Helene
Millions of Cameroonians in and out of the country are eagerly awaiting the Indomitable Lions’ first match in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Guinea.
A few hours to the encounter, the prevailing sentiment among Cameroonian fans is one of confidence, as they dismiss Guinea as a “small team” compared to the Indomitable Lions.
“Guinea is a very small team as compared to the Indomitable Lions. We have a long record of good achievements and have won the African cup on several occasions. So we are not scared of Guinea,” says Achille Mbongwe.
Fans across social media platforms and on the streets of cities like Douala are expressing unwavering confidence in Cameroon’s ability to secure a victory.
The prevailing optimism is rooted in the Indomitable Lions’ history of success and the perception that Guinea poses a lesser challenge.
One enthusiastic fan confidenyly predicted, “We are confident about today’s match. We will make it with at least 3 goals. The indomitable lions are ready for this match.”
Expressing surprise at the pairing of Cameroon with Guinea, another fan stated, “I don’t even know why the Indomitable Lions were paired with Guinea. They are too small for us. But we will make them cry on the field today. We have a strong team and are well prepared as well.”
This marks the third encounter between Cameroon and Guinea at the AFCON, with the previous two matches in 1998 and 2015 ending in draws.
In a press conference on Sunday, Cameroon’s Head Coach, Rigobert Song, assured the public of the team’s readiness.
“I already have my team set. I have a system we will be working on,” the former Indomitable Lions defender said.
He added, “We didn’t come to just be extras. We want to remake the history of ’84.”
The inclusion of Andre Onana as the main goalkeeper has further fueled the optimism of fans.
Onana was in England yesterday where he participated in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
But the world-class goalkeeper boarded a flight for Ivory Coast just after the match.
Commenting on social media, one supporter said, “I am happy Onana will be our main goalkeeper. He is good, and we know he will save us many shots.”
While the AFCON tournament has witnessed surprising results from other favourite teams, Cameroonians remain steadfast in their belief that their team will emerge victorious against Guinea.
The excitement and anticipation build as the Indomitable Lions prepare to step onto the field at 18:00 GMT and make their mark in this highly anticipated clash.
