Although their team has not won a match at the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Cameroonians back home are celebrating the victories recorded by Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria.
Playing in Group A, alongside hosts Brazil, Mexico and Croatia, the Indomitable Lions have lost 1-0 to Mexico and 4-0 to Croatia and due to play against Brazil Monday. Even with one match in hand, they have been eliminated from the tournament.
But their fans, disappointed at their team's performance so far, have taken solace in Algeria’s 4-2 victory in Group H over South Korea Sunday, Ivorians' 2-1 win over Japan in Group C and Nigeria's 1-0 victory over Bosnia Herzegovina in Group F.
Michel Mbogo, who supports all African teams in Brazil, said Algeria's success over South Korea has made many Cameroonian fans happy, especially after the collapse of Cameroon against Mexico and Croatia and the under-performance of Ghana against the United States (1-2) and the 2-2 draw against Germany.
Football trainer Louis Ebolo believed the successes have restored hope that one or two African nations can reach the knockout phase of the competition.
Cote d'Ivoire is second in Group C with three points and has to fight for a place in the round of 16 with Japan and Greece, who have one point each.
In Group F, Nigeria has four points, placing second to Argentina which has already qualified for the next round. The fight for the next team from that group to the next round is between Nigeria and Iran which has just one point.
Against Argentina on Wednesday, Nigeria needs just a draw to go through. In Group G where Ghana is featuring, the Black Stars still have a qualification chance should they beat bottom-of-the-table Portugal by a wide margin and there is a win in the US-Germany match.
The Algerians, second in Group H, are taking part in their fourth World Cup finals (1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014). Its last World Cup win was against against Germany (2-1) in 1982.
Algeria is also the first African team to have scored four times in a World Cup match.