Cameroon had never done so badly in the past. Our country had never finished the year in 65th place in the FIFA rankings. Yet this is what has just happened. This ranking published on December 22, 2016, places Cameroon in the 13th African rank. Until then, the worst annual progression of green-red-yellow remained in 2013 and a 61st position.

The modest 65th place worldwide this year demonstrates that the Indomitable Lions no longer roar. And how to think differently with the sad copy delivered last November against Zambia during the second day of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. Led by the Chipolopolo, themselves very poorly ranked (88th in the world), the Indomitable Lions had every difficulty in breaking the point of the draw, returning to a penalty converted by Aboubakar Vincent.

Cameroon has a chance to improve this ranking from the beginning of 2017 with the AFCON in Gabon. But many observers are skeptical about the latest performances of the national team and the atmosphere around it. Seven pre-summoned players have already declined the invitation. Difficult to hope in these conditions that Cameroon reaches the semifinals, goal assigned to the coach Hugo Broos.

The last FIFA rankings of the year confirm the return to the forefront of Senegal (33rd). The Lions of the Teranga have kept their number 1 ranking in Africa just ahead of Cote d’Ivoire (34th) which took second place to Tunisia (35th) now 3rd in Africa. No change also at the level of the world hierarchy. Argentina, Brazil and Germany still form the top three.