Africa’s Indomitable lions face the Nati of Switzerland for the first time at the FIFA World Cup in their Group D opening match.
The Nati have featured in three World Cup quarter-finals in 1934, 1938, and 1954 and will look to start their 2022 campaign on a high this afternoon as it’s been a while since they reached the last eight having only managed to reach the Round of 16 in 2018 and 2014.
Cameroon on the other hand whose best run at the World Cup was reaching the quarter-finals in 1990 will be making a return on the big stage after missing the 2018 edition.
Despite being Africa’s country with the most appearances(8) at the finals, it has remained only a dream for the central Africans to make it to the knockout stage of the competition since their successful run in 1990 with their last five campaigns coming to a premature end in the group stages.
The Rigobert Song will be motivated by their fellow Africans, Ghana who managed to beat Switzerland 2-0 in a World cup warm-up match and they will be high on confidence to record Africa’s first win in Qatar.
FACTS via FIFA
- Switzerland marched through World Cup qualifying without losing a match, relegating Italy to second place in the group and conceding just two goals in their entire campaign.
- The Nati have reached the knockout stages in four of their last five World Cup appearances, only going home after the group stage at South Africa 2010.
- Cameroon have qualified for the World Cup finals more often than any other African team and will be making their eighth appearance on the biggest stage in world football in Qatar.
- The Indomitable Lions have been waiting for a World Cup win since beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and have lost all of their last seven group matches.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
GRANIT XHAKA(Switzerland): The swiss captain has been impressive for English Premier League outfit Arsenal this season. He has scored 4 goals for the Gunners, more than he did last season, and will be one player to look out for in the Switzerland team.
Chuopo-Moting(Cameroon): He is one of the Cameroonian players that has been on everyone’s lips following his impressive start to the season in Germany. Choupo so far scored 11 goals across all competitions and he is the joint second-highest scorer with Sadio Mane for Bayern this season having averaged more than a goal per game in the Bundesliga.