Cameroun includes Akwa United keeper in 28-man AFCON squad

Akwa United goal keeper Jean Efala has been included in the 28-man Cameroun squad for the 2022 AFCON tournament.

He joined the Promise Keepers and helped them lift the 2021 Nigerian Professional League (NPFL) title in August.

Efala has featured for the national team at U-20 and senior levels.

In fact, he was part of the Camerounian U-20 squad that played at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup hosted by Colombia.

The 29-year old received his first international call-up against Tanzania on 6 February 2013.

It will be a huge advertisement for Nigeria’s local league should he get the nod to man the posts for the 2022 AFCO hosts.

Depth

Cameroun, who are hosts, also included seven players from the squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2017.

Defenders Collins Fai, Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui and Ambroise Onyango, winger Clinton Njie and strikers Vincent Aboubakar, Christian Bassogog and Karl Toko Ekambi all tasted success when Cameroon beat Egypt in the 2017 final in Gabon to win the last of their five Cup of Nations titles.

They return in a squad named by coach Toni Conceicao with Njie, formerly at Tottenham Hotspur, recalled after being left out for the six World Cup qualifiers played between September and November.

Goalkeeper Andre Onana and Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim Choupo Moting were selected for the 2017 squad but withdrew before that tournament, wanting to remain instead with their clubs.

But both are available for the delayed 2021 finals, which are set to get under way despite much concern over the home country’s readiness.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jean Efala (Akwa United), Devis Epassy (OFI Crete), Simon Omossola (Vita Club), Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam)

Defenders: Jean-Charles Castelletto (Nantes), Enzo Ebosse (Angers), Collins Fai (Standard Liege), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union), Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui (Gent), Harold Moukoudi (St Etienne), Jerome Onguene (Salzburg), Ambroise Oyongo (Montpellier), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders)

Midfielders: Samuel Gouet Oum (KV Mechelen), Martin Hongla (Verona), Pierre Kunde Malong (Olympiakos), James Lea Siliki (Middlesbrough), Jean Onana (Girondins Bordeaux), Yvan Neyou (St Etienne), Andre Zambo Anguissa (Napoli)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nasr), Stephane Bahoken (Angers), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenua, China), Eric Maxim Choupo Moting (Bayern Munich), Ignatius Ganago (Racing Lens), Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys Berne), Clinton Njie (Dynamo Moscow), Karl Toko Ekambi (Olympique Lyonnais).

Mazino Dickson/Reuters