Cameroon (Group D)

Have undergone a dramatic turnabout since the World Cup finals, which were an embarrassing episode characterised by squabbling over money, personality clashes and violent play. Amid the resultant clear-out of players, coach Volker Finke doggedly held onto his job and refused to bow to public demand. Loudest of the fring squad was Roger Milla, but all have now been silenced by the vast improvement in form and Finke enjoys begrudging admiration as Cameroon dominated a strong qualifying group. Only Egypt have a better Nations Cup record than Cameroon, who were winners in 1984, 1988, 2000 and 2002.

COACH

Finke was appointed after 16 years at Freiburg, during which time he saw them promoted and relegated three times in the longest single coaching spell in German professional football. He has a two-year deal which ends in June and is fuent in English and French.

KEY PLAYERS

Vincent Aboubakar quickly stepped into the striking void left by Samuel Eto’o but it was the newcomers who stole the show. Fabrice Ondoua, Jerome Guihoata and Clinton Njie were thrust into the heat of battle with little or no senior experience but came through with fying colours. Stephane Mbia has taken up the leadership role vacated by Eto’o and Nicolas Nkoulou could blossom into a major star.

LIKELY STARTING XI (4-4-2): 

Fabrice Ondoua - Stephane Mbia, Nicolas Nkoulou, Jerome Guihoata, Henri Bedimo - Clinton Njie, Eyong Enoh, Benjamin Moukandjo, Edgar Salli - Leonard Kwueke, Vincent Aboubakar.