Macedonia are playing Cameroon for the first time, and their choice for the robust African side can best be described as an appropriate test ahead of their Euro 2012 qualifying clash of Group B against big guns Republic of Ireland, which is slated for the end of March.
Cameroon’s recent win over Poland 3-0 in Szczecin, with Inter Milan forward Samuel Eto’o shining away with a brace, combined with their record as four-time winners of the African Cup of Nations, probably lured the Macedonians into having them as sparing partners ahead of their vital away fixture against the Boys in Green.
The Indomitable Lions’ physical style of play will help the Red Lions reassess their force of penetration and defensive strength, and then fine tune the rest.
Interestingly, both teams’ nicknames carry the word “lion.” Cameroon’s are the Indomitable Lions and Macedonia are the Red Lions. And then captains of both teams are team mates at Inter Milan – Samuel Eto’o for Cameroon and Goran Pandev for Macedonia.
Cameroon boast of more proven talents than Macedonia, but the host team is happy to uphold that challenge and ensure a worthwhile outcome, according to coach Mirsad Jonuz during a press conference on Tuesday at the Alexander Palace hotel in Skopje.
“Surely Cameroon has bigger names in their squad than Macedonia, but that’s only a challenge for us to put a good play and show our real capabilities before the qualifiers continue in March,” Mirsad Jonuz was quoted as saying by MacedonianFootball.com.
Home advantage might not really help here, but rather enough rage and caution to keep the fighting Africans out of their game.
Repeating the outcome against Poland and sending a threat to Senegal
Cameroon are currently not in a comfortable posture in their Group E of the African Nations Cup qualifying, where they trail Senegal with two points, and their next fixture in the third round will be against the Lions of Teranga in Dakar. Senegal are in top form and the Cameroonians know fumbling in that meeting will go a long way to jeopardizing their campaign towards Gabon & Equatorial Guinea 2012.
Coach Javier Clemente and his assistants have been preparing for the Senegal clash, by bringing aboard players who had been sacked from the set up for one reason or the other, but displaying what has been cooked so far within the team during the Macedonia match is as important as anything.
Senegal, although playing their own friendly, have positioned a delegation to watch the Macedonia-Cameroon match and take useful notes that will serve as case study. This too, the Indomitable Lions might be aware of, and would be willing to roll out during this friendly what will drive awe into the bones of the Senegalese, to maintain historic advantage.
Macedonia are statistically inferior to Cameroon, but again the technical staff wants to wipe this out of the minds of the central African outfit. Underestimation cost them a bitter 1-1 home draw against DR Congo in Garoua in the second round of the African Nations Cup. So, the Red Lions will be handled with enough seriousness as if it were a bigger side.
Eto’o also made it clear during the press conference, “I feel good here. I know Pandev and that’s enough for me to know that we are facing a good team as Macedonia is. I saw some videos of their play and what I saw was a strong team that knows what it wants from a game so therefore I'm expecting a good football,” said Eto’o.
Expect the Indomitable Lions to play good and tough, but don’t think Macedonia will fold arms and watch them do that.
FORM GUIDE
Macedonia
December 22 2010: China PR 1-0 Macedonia (Friendly)
November 17 2010 Albania 0-0 Macedonia (Friendly)
October 12 2010 Macedonia 0-1 Russia (Qualifiers)
Cameroon
October 09 2010 Cameroon 1-1 DR Congo
September 04 2010 Mauritius 1-3 Cameroon
August 11 2010 Poland 0-3 Cameroon
TEAM NEWS
Macedonia
Goran Popov of Dynamo Kyiv was withdrawn from the squad due to injury to be replaced by Borce Manevski of Rabotnicki.
Probable starting XI: Edin Nuredinoski, Nikolce Noveski, Igor Mitreski, Goran Popov, Vance Sikov, Velice Sumulikoski, Darko Tasevski, Muhamed Demiri, Goran Pandev, Ivan Trickovski, Ilco Naumoski
Cameroon
There have been some adjustments to the original roster due to injury, late arrivals and illness. Russian FC Anzhi Makhachkala right back Benoît Angbwa and Tottenham defender Benoît Assou-Ekotto are yet to report to camp and couldn’t partake in Monday’s training session.
Aston Villa’s midfielder Jean Makoun and Espanyol goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni are sick and Vincent Aboubakar and Georges Mandjeck were earlier sidelined.
Probable starting XI: Guy Roland Ndy Assembe, Sébastien Bassong, Gaetan Bong, Stéphane Mbia, Aurelien Chedjou, Matthew Mbuta Andongcho, Somen Tchoyi, Landry Nguemo, Choupo-Moting, Achille Webo, Samuel Eto’o
Prediction
Cameroon have what it takes to carry the day but Macedonia will be obstinate as much as they can.
Macedonia 1-2 Cameroon
