The search for players who will represent Cameroon during the 2020 African Nations Championship CHAN is expected to continue in the coming days when the fourth preselection camp begins. This maybe the last before a final list of 23 is made public in March or late in February for the final lap of preparations for the continental football showdown.

For sure tension is rising not just amongst the over 1000 players qualified to play the CHAN by virtue of their involvement in the local championships in the country, but also amongst football loving Cameroonians over those who will make the fourth list and possibly that for CHAN 2020.

From what has happened at the end of the three previous groupings, it is certain many will be dropped from the third group that trained in Douala and Yaoundé from the 6-26 of January 2020. This group was made up of eight names that have featured in all three gatherings, 13 who were coming for the second time and nine who came for the first time making a total of 30. After each camp, people are dropped and each time they are dropped no one especially the public remembers who has been dropped but pays more interest on who has been retained. The pain bearer when dropped is the player. Surely he feels cheated or less performant but for the public they want to see only the best represent their country. From all sides, tension is shooting to an all time high as Yves Clement Arroga and his collaborators aim to meet the expectations of their employers and the Cameroonian people.

Following statements by the intermediate lions gaffer, all players have the opportunity to make the final roster though admitting that he needs only 23 for a competition he says will not be an easy ride for the Lions. As he looks for the fittest team, it is certain that he will face a tough time in the process of arriving at that awaited fourth list talkless of the final squad.

Surely, the coach and his assistants have a difficult task which is not because they don’t know what to do or how to go about it, but because of the commitment, dedication, and determination demonstrated by the players in the championships and training sessions.

The players have been in the right frame of mind with the efforts of government and the Football Federation FECAFOOT recording no major injuries but for some knocks during friendlies.

The invitees for the goal post, defense, midfield and attack have been putting up an uncommon show for themselves and the team.

As Yves Clement Arroga and his collaborators have often said, no player wins a ticket to the final list ahead of time. Everyone has to work.

One of the things that excites could excite many most is the mindset of a majority of the players who have the opportunity to be in camp… In as much as they want to be amongst those on the final list, so too are they ready to be kept out of the list. Etta Bawak, Samuel Nlend, Dande Junior and Ebongue Yannick in separate instances answered my question with almost the same answer. I asked! What will be your reaction if you are not in the final list? I was surprised when they assured me that playing football has been their life and they have taken test matches around the world and not all of them turnout positive. Consequently if they are not selected that will not be an issue because they know that the coaches know what they want and for the best interest of the country they will give their blessing to those selected.

This was not an expected answer! How I wish everyone could think and reason like these players as we wait for that fourth list. As we wait, it will be good reasoning to have confidence in the coaches and accept their choices because they can’t call everyone and that those they call will work for the best interest of the country.

Mindful of the honour reserved for these technical staff should they win, they will surely want to win. I am amongst the many fans whose trust they have earned because of their methodic approach to work and allowing them to concoct their list with boldness will be the right thing to do.

The legendary fighting and winning spirit of the Lions is in the den and with a strong sense of camaraderie, only our support can push them to work for us all because rejecting them could be very discouraging. In confidence, let’s wait for that fourth list!

By Bakah Derick