The Data Tracking Scout: The Weekend as it happened.

What a weekend of action for the Indomitable Lions across their respective leagues! The clock is ticking, and decision time is fast approaching. Marc Brys will soon announce his Cameroon squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the inevitable flurry of headlines featuring the dreaded « Not Called Up » will dominate the football discourse.

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off on December 21, with hosts Morocco facing Comoros in Group A, while Cameroon begins their campaign against Gabon three days later. But despite the event still being some months away, it’s little comfort to Brys, who has six crucial qualifying matches to navigate en route to securing a spot in the historic trifecta World Cup in the US, Mexico, and Canada. Two encounters are set for March, two in September, and the final two in October. The standings in Group D are tight, with Cameroon holding just a two-point lead over Angola, currently in fourth place. In such a competitive group, every match is vital, and every point counts as Brys works to finalize his squad for the December showdown. Brys has largely stuck with a core group of players, so it’s hard to imagine many changes after the initial squad announcement unless injuries occur.

With the squad deadline looming, I’ll be reviewing the performances of the players who were called up in November 2024 and evaluating their chances of making the final squad. The analysis will be broken into four sections: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. I’ll provide insights into each player’s performance, whether it’s poor, average, or outstanding. To be clear, the names will not be ranked in any particular order.

With two crucial fixtures approaching in March, I’ll also take a closer look at how the squad is shaping up. Here are my thoughts and reflections on the most memorable moments from the weekend involving our players.

Goalkeepers

Andre Onana is having a tough season—one that mirrors the struggles of Manchester United. Since playing a key role in helping Cameroon secure a spot in the AFCON, Onana has kept just two clean sheets in 20 games across all competitions, conceding a staggering 32 goals. In contrast, his previous 20 matches (excluding the November qualifiers) saw him register nine clean sheets and allow just 19 goals. With United now out of all domestic competitions and only the Europa League left to focus on, the March FIFA break can’t come soon enough for Onana. It will offer him the opportunity to join his national teammates and take a break from the relentless social media pressure, giving him some much-needed respite on his beloved continent.

Meanwhile, Simon Ngapandouetnbu is continuing his football journey with Nimes Olympique in France’s third tier. Despite his team’s struggle at the bottom of the table, he delivered an outstanding man-of-the-match performance this weekend. With crucial saves, solid touches, precise passes, a clean sheet, and, most importantly, three vital points for his team, Ngapandouetnbu proved his worth on the field.
I would like to apologize to our loyal readers for the delay in verifying Simon Omossola’s statistics. Please rest assured, I will share the accurate data as soon as it has been thoroughly double-checked.

Defenders

It was a weekend to forget for the Cameroon defensive contingent. Casteletto‘s Nantes suffered a 2-0 loss to Marseille, Tchatchoua’s Verona suffered the same fate to Juventus, Boyomo‘s Osasuna were held to a 3-3 draw by Valencia after conceding an equalizer in the 87th minute, Tolo‘s Sounders were beaten 2-0 by Salt Lake, with Tolo scoring an own goal before being substituted in the 68th minute, and Ngadeu‘s Guoan had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Shenhua in the dying moments.

On a brighter note for Indomitable Lions’ fans, Fai Collins secured a move to Bosnian side Sloboda Tuzla, where he will get much-needed playing time. Meanwhile, Yongwa continued his impressive run of form, delivering another solid performance against Rodez.

Midfielders

Let’s begin with the bad news! Hongla has been struggling with his form in the past four games, and their heavy 5-0 defeat to Cordoba only added to his woes.

Younoussa’s Rodez suffered a 3-1 loss to Lorient. Although he came on in the 66th minute, Lorient netted their third goal just 22 minutes later. On the other hand, Arthur Avom was part of the victorious Lorient side. While he didn’t register any goal contributions, he was solid with accurate passes, key passes, crosses, and played the full 90 minutes.

Yvan Neyou put in a decent performance in his team’s win over Getafe. The 3 points not only lifted them two places above the relegation zone but also served as a morale-boosting victory for a team that hadn’t won in five games.

Carlos Baleba continued to impress as his side secured a 2-1 extra-time win over Newcastle to qualify for the FA Cup quarterfinals. It’s been five consecutive wins for Brighton, and with 12 unbeaten matches in 13 starts, Baleba’s importance to the team is undeniable.

Attackers

What a weekend it was for Cameroon’s attackers! The Russian Premier League resumed with Ngamaleu’s Dynamo Moscow earning a 1-1 draw. Boris Enow’s DC United also drew 2-2 with Chicago, while Bassogog’s Al-Okhdood held Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Ittihad to a draw, with the Cameroonian stunning them by scoring a last-minute equalizer in the 97th minute.

Frank Magri continued his fine form for Toulouse, opening the scoring in the 51st minute of their 4-0 win over Angers, following his impressive 4th goal in last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Le Havre.

The standout performance of the weekend belonged to Patrick Soko, who stole the show with a brace in Huesca’s dominant victory. The man-of-the-match performance was a remarkable turnaround for Soko, who had scored just one goal in LaLiga 2 before the Cameroon October qualifiers, where he was an unused substitute. However, after featuring in both November qualifiers, the ancestors have surely smiled upon him. Since then, he’s been on fire with 9 goals and 2 assists, helping Huesca secure the 2nd automatic promotion spot to LaLiga.

Elume Raymond™ (Twitter/X: @elumeraymond) is a seasoned sports writer with more than a decade of experience in the field. He leverages data and analytics to deliver in-depth analysis across a wide range of sports events and topics, from regional competitions to global tournaments. Passionate about sports, Elume Raymond™ is dedicated to sharing his enthusiasm with his audience, offering captivating stories and unique perspectives that engage and inspire.