Cameroon national football team
Cameroon played its first match against Belgian Congo in 1956. The scoreline ended 3, 2 for the visitors, marking a loss for the new national side. They did not qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations until 1970. That tournament saw them knocked out in the opening round. Two years later, they hosted the competition and finished third. Neighbors Congo defeated them before they could advance further. A decade passed without another qualification attempt. The team qualified for its first FIFA World Cup in 1982. They drew with Peru and held Poland goalless. An unexpected 1, 1 draw with Italy followed. Despite remaining unbeaten, Cameroon failed to reach the second round. They had scored fewer goals than Italy.
The Indomitable Lions reached the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup. This was the first time an African team achieved this milestone. François Omam-Biyik scored the winning goal against defending champions Argentina. Roger Milla scored two goals in extra-time during the second-round victory over Colombia. He became the oldest player to play and score in a World Cup finals match at age 42. The team lost to England 3, 2 after extra time. David Platt opened the scoring for England. Emmanuel Kundé and Eugène Ekéké gave Cameroon the lead. Gary Lineker equalized twice via penalties. Valeri Nepomniachi coached the squad through these historic runs. Five Africa Cup of Nations titles were won between 1984 and 2017. Samuel Eto'o emerged as the youngest player in the 1998 tournament alongside Michael Owen.
Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed on the pitch during the semi-final of the 2003 Confederations Cup. Medics spent 45 minutes attempting to restart his heart. He died shortly after arriving at the stadium's medical centre. An autopsy determined hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused his death. Samuel Eto'o had scored against Brazil earlier that day. The final against France became an occasion to honor Foé instead of playing for glory. Thierry Henry scored the golden goal in extra time. Cameroon took a lap around the stadium holding a large photo of their fallen teammate. No traditional post-match celebrations occurred. The tournament closed with one last tribute to Foé.
Cameroon defeated Brazil 1, 0 in the 2022 World Cup group stage. Vincent Aboubakar netted the lone goal in stoppage time. It was the Seleção's first group stage loss since 1998. This victory made Cameroon the first African country to defeat Brazil in tournament play twice. They qualified for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations via goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Christopher Wooh. A packed Roumde Adja stadium witnessed the qualification on the 12th of September 2023. The team finished third behind Brazil and Switzerland in Qatar. Rigobert Song remains the most capped player with 137 appearances. Samuel Eto'o holds the record for top goalscorer with 56 goals.
The national tradition color is green shirts, red shorts and yellow socks. These match the colors of the national flag. Puma supplied kits from 1998 until 2018. Le Coq Sportif took over from 2019 to 2022. One All Sports provided uniforms between 2022 and 2024. Fourteen became the supplier starting in 2025. FIFA did not allow sleeveless Puma shirts at the 2002 African Cup of Nations. Black sleeves were added to the designs. A one-piece kit designed by Puma was declared illegal in 2004. Six points were deducted from their qualifying campaign as a penalty. Cameroon won the case in court but had to wear two-piece kits. Points were subsequently restored to the team.
Rigobert Song made 137 appearances for Cameroon. He scored five goals during his career spanning from 1996 to 2010. Samuel Eto'o played 118 matches and scored 56 goals. His tenure lasted from 1997 to 2014. Geremi Njitap also earned 118 caps with 13 goals. Vincent Aboubakar has 117 caps and 45 goals since 2010. Roger Milla scored 43 goals across 77 games. Patrick Mboma netted 33 goals in 55 appearances. François Omam-Biyik contributed 26 goals in 73 matches. The team has qualified for eight World Cups, more than any other African nation. They have reached the quarter-finals only once.
Up Next
Common questions
When did the Cameroon national football team play its first match?
Cameroon played its first match against Belgian Congo in 1956. The scoreline ended 3, 2 for the visitors, marking a loss for the new national side.
Who coached the Cameroon national football team during their 1990 World Cup run?
Valeri Nepomniachi coached the squad through these historic runs to the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup. This was the first time an African team achieved this milestone.
What caused the death of Marc-Vivien Foé during the 2003 Confederations Cup?
An autopsy determined hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused his death after he collapsed on the pitch during the semi-final. Medics spent 45 minutes attempting to restart his heart before he died shortly after arriving at the stadium's medical centre.
Which player holds the record for most goals scored by the Cameroon national football team?
Samuel Eto'o holds the record for top goalscorer with 56 goals. His tenure lasted from 1997 to 2014 and included 118 matches.
When did the Cameroon national football team qualify for the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations?
A packed Roumde Adja stadium witnessed the qualification on the 12th of September 2023. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Christopher Wooh secured their place in the tournament.