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[caption id="attachment_965706" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Cameroon players pose for a team photo ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group C football match between Gambia and Cameroon at Stade de la Paix in Bouake on January 23, 2024. (Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP) (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)[/caption]
The once formidable reputation of Cameroon's national football team seems to be fading, at least in the eyes of former goalkeeper, Joseph Antoine Bell.
As the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations unfolds, Bell, a stalwart of the Indomitable Lions in his playing days, has expressed a sentiment that starkly contrasts with the fierce spirit that once defined the team.
“The Ivorians cannot change because they only beat Guinea Bissau who were last in the group. For the Cameroonians, it's true, they were enthusiastic, the suspense helping, everyone applauded, and the supporters think that it is the awakening of the Indomitable Lions. Except that looking at it, the Cameroonians only beat the bottom of the group that everyone beat, and the Cameroonians conceded two goals against the latter who had not scored any goals to the others," he said ahead of Cameroon's round of 16 clash against Nigeria.
"And so that puts into perspective the optimism that arises after this victory... I think that in reality we really have to pray to say that the Cameroonians have woken up. But waking up against Gambia does not ensure that it will be the same against a group leader. At the start of this competition, Cameroon was not among the favorites. There are only certain Cameroonians who did not want to see this reality.
“Now as for the fear that Cameroon could inspire in its adversaries, to see how the supporters exploded of joy, to see how the players exploded with joy, but to see the disappointment of the Gambians, we understand very well (…) And to see the progress of the match we understand very well that the Cameroonians themselves send the image of people who are very happy to have won against Gambia.
"And then when we see images of the president of the federation crying, we wonder if he is crying for the past value of Cameroon and that he has proof today that it is no longer there, or else he cries with joy. But in both cases, he sends the same message (he was scared)," he ended.
The once formidable reputation of Cameroon's national football team seems to be fading, at least in the eyes of former goalkeeper, Joseph Antoine Bell.
As the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations unfolds, Bell, a stalwart of the Indomitable Lions in his playing days, has expressed a sentiment that starkly contrasts with the fierce spirit that once defined the team.
“The Ivorians cannot change because they only beat Guinea Bissau who were last in the group. For the Cameroonians, it's true, they were enthusiastic, the suspense helping, everyone applauded, and the supporters think that it is the awakening of the Indomitable Lions. Except that looking at it, the Cameroonians only beat the bottom of the group that everyone beat, and the Cameroonians conceded two goals against the latter who had not scored any goals to the others," he said ahead of Cameroon's round of 16 clash against Nigeria.
"And so that puts into perspective the optimism that arises after this victory... I think that in reality we really have to pray to say that the Cameroonians have woken up. But waking up against Gambia does not ensure that it will be the same against a group leader. At the start of this competition, Cameroon was not among the favorites. There are only certain Cameroonians who did not want to see this reality.
“Now as for the fear that Cameroon could inspire in its adversaries, to see how the supporters exploded of joy, to see how the players exploded with joy, but to see the disappointment of the Gambians, we understand very well (…) And to see the progress of the match we understand very well that the Cameroonians themselves send the image of people who are very happy to have won against Gambia.
"And then when we see images of the president of the federation crying, we wonder if he is crying for the past value of Cameroon and that he has proof today that it is no longer there, or else he cries with joy. But in both cases, he sends the same message (he was scared)," he ended.