The Indomitable Lions will have a lifeline to depend on if they avoid defeat to Serbia on Monday in their second Group clash. The two sides are returning into action from the back of a defeat to Switzerland and Brazil respectively in their opening matches.
Cameroon suffered their eighth consecutive defeat at the World Cup after Yaounde-born Breel Embolo connected a Xherdan Shaqiri cutback in the 48th minute. The efforts of Bryan Mbuemo, Karl Toko Ekambi, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Vincent Aboubacar who came from the bench were well contained by the Swiss which meant the 1990 quarterfinalists would continue to search for a win at the global stage after 20 years.
Serbia on Thursday night could not endure the threats of Brazil to the end when the two sides clashed again at the World Cup after their meeting in 2018. Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison, scored two second-half goals including an amazing acrobatic kick to achieve the scoreline recorded in 2018-2-0 in favour of Brazil.
If records are anything to go by in this encounter, then Cameroon will have a lot more to do to tilt results in their favour. Because the five-time African champions’ first and only win over a European country at the World Cup was against Romania in 1990.
While Cameroon aim to go all out for the needed points, Serbia would fancy themselves a chance once more, having lost just three in their last 17 games.
FORM GUIDE (LAST FIVE MATCHES)
Cameroon’s form has been worsened as Rigobert Song’s side are now with three losses and a couple of draws from their last five games. Their only win after achieving a third place at the 2021 AFCON was against Burundi over five months ago. Serbia’s loss to Brazil makes it their first defeat in five matches and also the only match they have failed to score in that run.
CAMEROON’S FORM
24 November 2022 Switzerland 1-0 Cameroon 2022 World Cup Group G
18 November 2022 Cameroon 1–1 Panama Friendly
9 November 2022 Cameroon 1–1 Jamaica Friendly
27 September 2022 South Korea 1–0 Cameroon Friendly
23 September 2022 Cameroon 0–2 Uzbekistan Friendly
SERBIA’S FORM
24 November 2022 Brazil 2-0 Serbia 2022 World Cup Group G
18 November 2022 Bahrain 1–5 Serbia International friendly
27 September 2022 Norway 0–2 Serbia UEFA Nations League
24 September 2022 Serbia 4–1 Sweden UEFA Nations League
12 June 2022 Slovenia 2–2 Serbia UEFA Nations League
HEAD TO HEAD
It will be their second-ever meeting but their first at the World Cup.
05 Jun 2010 Serbia 4-3 Cameroon International Friendly
TEAM NEWS
CAMEROON
Italian-based midfielders, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Martin Hongla will probably get the nod once more in the absence of Swansea City midfielder, Olivier Ntcham who is out due to injury. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is expected to start ahead of Captain Vincent Aboubakar
PREDICTED LINEUP
(4-3-3): Onana; Fai, Nkoulou, Castelletto, Tolo; Anguissa, Gouet, Hongla; Mbeumo, Choupo-Moting, Toko Ekambi
SERBIA
Juventus midfielder Filip Kostic may not feature in the match. However, his teammate, Dušan Vlahović is expected to pair with Alexandar Mitrović while Dušan Tadić is assigned to initiate attacks behind the duo.
PREDICTED LINEUP
(3-4-1-2): V. Milinkovic-Savic; Milenkovic, Veljkovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Lukic, Milinkovic-Savic, Mladenovic; Tadić; Vlahović, Mitrović