Cameroon’s Golden Moments

On June 8, 1990, against all odds, Cameroon won their first group match at the World Cup finals. Prior to that fateful afternoon, the Indomitable Lions’ World Cup record consisted of three draws during the 1982 World Cup in Spain, their sole participation in the tournament before Italia ‘90.

So when it was announced that the Indomitable Lions would be facing the reigning World Cup holders Argentina and the best player in the world at the time, and certainly the most popular throughout Africa in Diego Maradona, most fans were just enthusiastic at the idea of seeing their national team play against a global icon.

And the least that can be said was that their success couldn’t have been foreseen. And even within the Cameroonian camp nobody believed in their own chances and many, with many problems plaguing the squad’s preparation.

Prior to the Argentina game, Joseph-Antoine Bell, the legendary goalkeeper and then star and leader of the team, was excluded from the squad on the minister’s orders. Bell declared to any media outlet that would have him the week prior that there was a lack of means given to the players given the pressure they were under, and there was an over-involvement of political affairs into football. This was not received very well within the government and Bell was expelled for a lack of discipline.

What he had been referring to in the press at the time was the inclusion of national icon Roger Milla. The old Lion, who was 38 at the time and had retired from international football three years prior to go and play in the Pacific Ocean, was called up a few months before the competition by president Paul Biya, who wanted the most popular player in the country to represent his nation. Reluctantly, Milla came in to a lukewarm welcome from his team-mates, the most vocal of all being Bell.

Up until the day of the clash with Argentina, the Cameroonians themselves didn’t know what the line-up would be, as players were being given disciplinary sanctions for declarations and even Russian coach Valeri Nepomiatchi couldn’t keep up. However, on the day of the match everything went brilliantly for the Indomitable Lions.

In a team led by Stephen Tataw, the Cameroonians were amazingly disciplined and their solidity in every moment paid off. In the 67th minute, Francois Omam Biyik’s headed goal sent a whole continent into a frenzy. The mighty Argentines had fallen at the feet of the tiny Cameroon.

The rest of the competition, as they say, is history.

In their second match, the Cameroonians faced Gheorge Hagi’s Romania and the old Lion roared again. After being brought on in the 61st minute, Roger Milla scored twice and did the dance that would make him famous the world over. By celebrating his two goals with a Makossa around the corner post, Milla cemented his legacy as the symbol of the breathe of fresh air that was the Cameroon team. The Indomitable Lions ultimately won the bout 2-1.

In their last group match against the USSR, an already qualified Cameroon team was humiliated 4-0, but didn’t seem to mind the defeat too much as they were going through to the round of 16 where they would face Colombia.

Against very tough opponents and another breakout star of the tournament, the fan favourite goalkeeper Rene Higuita, Cameroon won 2-1 after extra-time thanks to two more goals from Milla. The second goal still ranks amongst the most ridiculous ever scored in such a big competition, Higuita and his defender knocking the ball back and forth before being dispossessed by Milla, who gave himself another chance to dance his way towards the quarter-finals.

The quarter-finals, the furthest an African team had ever been before, would be their last match. But what an epic match it was. After trailing to the English, undeservedly so, the Cameroonians scored a quickfire double early in the second half. This gave the whole world, who were at the time rooting for the underdog, the hope of seeing them go through to an incredible semi-final berth. Unfortunately for them, England and Gary Lineker were awarded two more penalties, one in the 82nd minute and one during extra-time, clinching a 3-2 victory for the European side. Despite the full-time result, the match is still considered today to be one of the greatest matches in World Cup history.

Leaving the stadium in Naples with their heads held high, the Cameroonians launched a new dynasty and paved the way for Senegal in 2002 and maybe another African team in 2010. Their journey in Italy is still to this day the reason why many have started paying closer attention to football on the African continent.