2021 AFCON Qualifiers: Nicolas N’koulou is back in the den
The 2017 AFCON winning captain, Nicolas N’koulou is back in the Lion’s den after three years of absence.
Nicolas N’koulou is amongst the thirty-three players called to camp by Head Coach Antonio Da Silva Oliveira Conceição ahead of the 2021 AFCON qualifier game against Mozambique on Thursday, March 26th, 2020.
29-year old N’koulou makes his comeback to the team since the 2017 AFCON finals in Gabon pitting the Pharaohs of Egypt.
The international footballer who presently plays with Torino in Italy is remembered for scoring the equaliser during the 2017 AFCON finals before the last minute winner from Vincent Aboubakar.
The 33-man squad
The list of 33 was published this Sunday, March 1,2020 by the new Portuguese born tactician , Toni Conceição.
Goalkeepers
Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Fabrice Ondoa (KV Oostende, Belgium), Haschou Kerrido (CIK Kamsar, Guinea), Epane Lytizi (Stade Renard, Cameroon)
Defenders
Allan Nyom (Getafe,Spain), Fai Collins (Standard Liege, Belgium), Nicolas N’koulou (Torino,Italy), Jerome Onguene (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria),Harold Moukouri (Middlesbrough, England), Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui (Gent, Belgium), Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo (Montpellier, France), Joyskim Dawa Tchakonte (FK Mariupol, Ukraine) Jean Charles Castelletto (Brest, France), Ngouyamsa Ahmad(Dijon, France), Ngah Fabrice (Raja Casablanca,Morocco)
Midfielders
Bambock Franck (Maritimo,Portugal), Andre Zambo Anguissa (Villareal, Spain), Pierre Kunde Malong (Mainz, Germany), Arnaud Djoum (Al-Raed, Saudi Arabia), Fabrice Olinga (Mouscron, Belgium), Eteki Brice Yann (Granada, Spain), Oum Gwet Samuel ( Altach,Austria), Onana Jean (Lille,France)
Attackers
Stephane Bahoken (SCO Angers,France) Ignatius Ganago (Nice, France), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Paris Saint Germain, France), Christian Bassogog (Henan Jianye, China), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys, Switzerland), Karl Toko Ekambi (Villareal, Spain), Brice Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys, Switzerland), Vincent Aboubakar (FC Porto, Portugal), Aboubakari Sidiki (Union Sportif of Douala, Cameroon), John Mary Uzuegbunam (Shenzhen,China).
One of the major highlights from the list is the comeback of agile striker, Vincent Aboubakar to the den after an absence due to an injury.
Ngah Fabrice who plays in Casablanca, Morocco is finally home too with the lions likewise Allan Nyom of Getafe, players that have been after for a while now
Two locals players; Goalkeeper Yannick Epane Lytizi of Stade Renard of Melong and striker Aboubakari Sidiki of Union Sportive of Douala have made their way into Toni Conceição’s list for the first time.
Other newcomers coming from abroad are Onana Jean of Lille in France, Samuel Oum Gwet of SCR Altach in Austria and Yann Eteki Brice of Granada in Spain.
Noticeably, 2019 Champions League winner Joël Matip of Liverpool is absent in the recent call-up.
The squad will throw weights with the Mambas of Mozambique in 2021 AFCON match-day three qualifiers on Thursday, March 26th,2020 at the Bepanda Reunification stadium in Douala, and the return leg on Monday, March 31st in Maputo, Mozambique.
Benly Anchunda