Cameroon have once again surprised with their official list for the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. For the very first time, Indomitable Lions national coach Rigobert Song has called up Wilfried Nathan Douala, aged just 17, for CAF’s most prestigious competition. A controversy immediately erupted on social networks over the age of the young Victoria United midfielder. Africa Sports spoke to Audrey Lopez Ngansop, a Cameroonian journalist with close links to the national team and sports advisor to the nugget Nathan Douala. She talked about the Indomitable Lions, Choupo-Moting’s absence and, of course, the controversy surrounding her player’s age. Read on !
Africa Sports : Hello Audrey Lopez Ngansop, you are a Cameroonian journalist who is very close to the Indomitable Lions. What do you think of Rigobert Song’s team?
Audrey Lopez Ngansop: As a Cameroonian journalist, I think we have the qualities, the skills and the ability to always get people talking about us and on the pitch, because we are lions. As I said earlier and will always say, the coach-manager Rigobert Song has chosen 27 players and I think that with these players, we will go far. And why not win this African Cup of Nations, which starts next week, on 13 January, against Côte d’Ivoire. So the Cameroon national team has everything it takes to win this competition.
What do you think are Cameroon’s chances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations ?
As far as the Cameroonian national team’s chances at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, to be held in Côte d’Ivoire, are concerned, I’d say 90% for Cameroon. Yes, that’s true. We’re in a pretty tricky group. We have the winners, the African champions, Senegal, whom I respect a lot, Sadio Mané’s country. And we have Guinea Conakry, the country of the Sylla brothers, who went through to the second round at the last Africa Cup of Nations, and we also have Gambia, who have qualified for the second time in a row for this magnificent competition organised by the Confederation of African Football. So we have three really amazing countries, countries against which we really need to get our lions’ claws out. And to do that, manager Rigobert Song is going to implement a pretty strong strategy so that we win the first matches first, i.e. the match against Guinea Conakry on 15 January and then the match against Senegal on the following Friday. So I think Cameroon have a 90% chance. We are the best and we will be the champions of this competition.
Cameroon are in the group of death though, will it be that easy?
Yes, we’re in the group of death, which includes Senegal, Gambia and Guinea Conakry. As I said at the start of the interview, these are great teams and I have a lot of respect for them. But we’re confident, we’re not afraid. We’re leaving with peace of mind because we’ve got a good group of players and an incredible technical staff, as well as the President of the Cameroon Football Federation. So as far as I’m concerned, we have every chance of winning this African Cup of Nations and also of beating the Lions of Teranga, Guinea Conakry and even Gambia.
Won’t Choupo-Moting’s absence be detrimental?
For me, Choupo-Moting‘s absence is a real waste. And because his experience and also his game were supposed to give us an advantage or bring something extra to the whole team. So for me, not being selected is a real waste. But I’d have to go back to what coach-manager Rigobert Song said at the press conference. He had his reasons. As far as he’s concerned, he’s a good player, like everyone else, but it’s the coach, he’s the one who decides and he’s the one who made his choices. So we can only accept the manager’s choices.
You are advisor to new player Wilfried Nathan Douala. Tell us about this young man.
My player Wilfried Nathan was born on 15 June 2006 in Yaoundé, originally from Douala of course, and he plays in midfield. Last season, he played in the amateur league, third division, for Sporting de Douala. This season, he has joined Victoria United FC, based in Limbe, also known as Popo. Coach-manager Rigobert Song was impressed by this promising and highly competent midfielder when the Cameroonian league season opened at the Stade Militaire in Yaoundé, pitting Wilfrid Nathan’s club, Victoria United FC, against Fauve Azur. And there we saw a Nathan who excelled in incredible play, both short and long. So I think coach-manager Rigobert Song was touched by his talent. So he’s an exceptional asset to the local football elite as well as the football elite. And he’s an African, because I think Nathan will do wonders at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire on his first call-up to the Cameroon national team. It marks a major turning point in the young player’s career.
Can he help Rigobert Song’s Indomitable Lions at the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations?
He can be a real asset to the Cameroon national team at the moment. He’s versatile and excels at playing both short and long ball. So, in my opinion, he can play in different positions on the football pitch. Nathan Douala can be a real asset to the Cameroon national team. He has remarkable passing ability and, for those who have never seen Nathan play, his expertise and finesse are incredible. I promise you, if coach-manager Rigobert Song gives him two minutes of game time, Cameroon will hear about him. Not just Cameroon, but the whole of Africa and the whole world. Because Nathan Douala is one of Cameroon’s brightest stars.
How did he feel about the controversy surrounding his age (17)?
It’s because he hadn’t shaved. But when they shaved him, he looked younger. He’s of mixed race, he’s got the beard, he’s got the morphology to go with it. So I don’t know why the Cameroonians started this controversy. He was born on 15 June 2006 in Yaoundé, so 17 is Nathan’s real age. And we should say so too. This controversy has allowed us to get to know the player better. It’s a blessing in disguise. Yes, 17 is Nathan Wilfried Douala’s age.
Leave a Reply