Rigobert Song returns to the Cameroon line up 16 years after making his debut in the 1994 World Cup. Paul Le Guen named his 23 man roster and included the veteran journeyman who is now out of contract at Trabzanspor.
Rigobert has always been described as the uncle of Arsenal’s Alex Song, who was also selected. More recently, an interview establishes him as Song’s cousin. Which sort of better explains the 11 year age gap between the two men.
The uncle’s idol is Roger Milla, the man who emblazoned the Indomitable Lions to an unforgettable 1994 World Cup campaign. He was Milla’s team mate in that squad. The 42 year old veteran was a role model to the 17 year old at the time. In that same interview, Rigobert named Milla as the best Cameroon player of all time.
It is almost too tempting to believe that Le Guen picked Rigobert Song to motivate Samuel Eto’o to greater effort to claim that mantle. Milla’s influence is still overwhelming enough for a recent dust up between him and Eto’o, who threatened to walk out of the squad following criticism by the Cameroonian talisman that he still had to prove himself.
Arsenal target Stephane Mbia, part of L’OM’s stingy back four finds himself on the squad. Also selected – Spurs defenders Benoit Assou Ekotto if believed, has no teary eyed illusions about football being a patriotic endeavour, and Sebastian Bassong. Jean Makoun the long distance bomber from Lyon will anchor the midfield with Alex Song.
Cameroon are in Group E with Netherlands as overwhelming favourites to progress. They will fight with Denmark and Japan for that coveted second spot.
Goalkeepers: Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor), Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Valenciennes)
Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurelien Chedjou (Lille), Geremi (Ankaragucu), Stephane Mbia (Marseille), Nicolas Nkoulou (Monaco), Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor)
Midfielders: Eyong Enoh (Ajax), Jean II Makoun (Lyon), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern), Joel Matip (Schalke), Landry Nguemo (Celtic), Alexandre Song (Arsenal)
Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Moting (Nurnberg), Achille Emana (Real Betis), Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan), Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg), Achille Webo (Mallorca).