There should be nothing to fear about Cameroun as the Eagles prepare to host them in yet another explosive World Cup qualifier. Les Lions Indomitables must be humiliated in this quest to make the Russia 2018 Mundial. Enough of their insults. It is time to really wound them beyond a fight.
In the days of Christian Chukwu and Segun Odegbami, the Camerounians worshipped Nigeria.Things changed after that great generation that included Emmanuel Okala and Mudashiru Lawal,hung their cleats. That was when the Stephen Keshi generation took over the baton.
The Eagles began the journey to the World Cup finals in 1961, ahead of Chile ’62. The Lions only joined in 1969, for Mexico’70. And they were bundled out from the qualifiers by Nigeria. After a 1-1 draw in Ibadan, Green Eagles won the return leg 3-2 in Yaounde. Ganiyu Salami would always remember that away victory.
Nigeria debuted at the Nations Cup in 1963. Cameroun only qualified seven years later. Nothing spectacular about the Central Africans. They even lost in the grand finale as hosts in 1972. The Lions did not qualify again until Libya 82, were they drew all three group matches and crashed out. At that time, the Green Eagles were defending champions.
Cameroun did not qualify for the Olympics until Los Angeles’ 84. And they lost all three matches. Nigeria’s debut was at Mexico’70 where they grabbed a 3-3 draw against Brazil. The Dream team would later win Africa’s First Olympic soccer gold in 1996. The Lions followed four years later at Sydney 2000.
It was the same superiority story in the first 20 years of the All Africa Games. The Eagles won gold in their first appearance at the Lagos ’73 Games. Cameroun’s curtain raiser was at Algiers ’78. They got a goalless draw against the Eagles in Group B and that was all. Defending champions Nigeria came out with a silver medal.
In those years, the Indomitable Lions were afraid of Nigerian opposition. In a 1974 friendly at home,visiting Green Eagles won 1-0.The Nigerians paraded Okala, Musa, Harrison Mecha, Nathaniel Adewale, Chukwu, Idowu Otubusin, Philip Boamah, Keneth Olayombo, Mohammed Lawal, Johnie Nwadioha and Haruna Ilerika. Subs were Mike Okotie, Josy Dombraye and Yakubu Mambo.
The homers lined up Mballa, Machongo, Doumbe Lea, Tsebo, Ayissi, Bahoken, Djombi, Ekoule, Roger Milla and Ama. Gregory Mbida and Emana came in as substitutes. There was nothing inspiring from the Camerounians.
In 1976, Shooting Stars won the Africa Winners Cup by dethroning Tonnerre Kalara ,4-2 aggregate. Until they met the Nigerians, the defending champions had not lost any match in the championships. Milla could make no difference.
Rangers International won the cup in 1977. They thrashed another Camerounian side, Canon Sportif,5-2 aggregate. The Flying Antelopes went the whole hog without losing in the competition. The first time such feat was recorded in what later became the Mandela Cup.
Rangers made it 4-1 in the Lagos first leg. The return leg was like war. With Thomas Nkono in goal, Manga Oungene and Paul Akono upfront, Canon failed to fire. The match was abandoned in the first half due to downpour. When hostilities resumed the following day, Nwachukwu Onyekwelu (Igariga ) released an inter continental ballistic missile that destroyed Yaounde. The hosts only managed to equalise.
Cameroun only began to rise after their Nigerian tormentors had left the stage. A declining Mudashiru Lawal was on target at the 1984 Nations Cup grand finale before Ndjeya powered home an equaliser prompting Theophile Abega and Ernest Ebongue to add more as the Eagles slumped 1-3.
That heralded an uncanny hegemony that led to two more grand finale defeat and a World Cup nightmare in 1989 after Sam Okwaraji’s demise . Cameroun stole the cup at Maroc’88 and again in Lagos twelve years later, thanks to criminal officiating. They should be ashamed of their dubious celebrations.
Time is now to show that they are nothing. Captain Mikel Obi must die if need be in the field for Cameroun to be vanquished. Alex Iwobi must cleanse the regrets of uncle Jay Jay Okocha. Les Lions Indomitables must be executed in Uyo for Nigerians to make merry.
