Cameroon faces a significant challenge in its campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Despite this, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, has expressed hope regarding the Indomitable Lions' chances of qualifying.
During a recent appearance on the program "Présidence Actu" on the national channel, Mouelle Kombi acknowledged that the current situation is worrying, with Cameroon trailing Cape Verde by four points in the qualifying group. Furthermore, the team is not among the best runners-up who could potentially qualify via the play-offs.
The Minister stressed the crucial importance of the next two matches in October. According to him, despite the challenges, Cameroon still has the possibility of qualifying for the world tournament scheduled in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Mouelle Kombi also took this opportunity to criticize certain actors in Cameroonian football. He accuses them of not having respected the "high instructions", which would have led to losses of valuable points, in particular during the away matches against Angola and Eswatini. He insisted that the coach could have worked in a more serene environment, conducive to performance, if these actors had acted differently.
The Minister mentioned simulations carried out by experts from his ministry, which envisage several scenarios, two of which are favorable to qualification, either directly or via the play-offs. However, he deplored the fact that the team was unable to reach the first place in its group due to certain "counterproductive" attitudes.
The Indomitable Lions are determined to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Cameroon has participated five times in the World Cup and wishes to reconnect with the world elite.
To qualify, Cameroon must potentially defeat DR Congo, then the winner of the Nigeria v Gabon match, and finally succeed in the intercontinental play-off in Mexico.
