Was he injured? Sanctioned? Tired? The questions did not stop after the South Africa-Cameroon match as concerns the absence of the captain of the Indomitable Lions. Replacing Stephane Mbia has indeed raised a lot of eye brow and has left many unanswered questions


From an observer memory point of view, this is rarely, if ever happened in the Indomitable Lions to see the abrupt replacement of the captain of the national team. Yet Hugo Broos has done so.

To think that it was the 2nd vice-captain, Vincent Aboubakar, who wore the armband in the absence of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting? “The national coach had announced big changes after the draw recorded in Limbe”, simply explain the Team Press Officer of the team, Vincent de Paul Atangana on this issue.


At the same time, some media sources, including social networks, reported an unfortunate exit of captain after the game as he got into the dressing room. According to the site Mboafootball the player of Fc Hebei (China) have criticized the new tenured players by the coach, accusing him of not having sufficiently "wet the shirt," unlike some frames left on the bench.

The social media site also claims Mbia was taken by Vincent Aboubakar on time and later by officials of the delegation at the point when the possibility of a suspension of captain would have been considered (can’t tell if all this happened in the same locker room). All this Information was however denied by Vincent Atangana.

Further sources however, said that there has never been any friction between the two teammates in the locker or dressing room. The national coach has announced changes in both the incoming Eleven in the tactics of the national team.

All things have been implemented to counter the opponent style of play of the day. “In any case, having Stephane Mbia on the bench may suggest that now, no one is indispensable in this team.

Notwithstanding, could the abrupt changes talk well of the team management, and could putting Mbia on the bench mean him about to lose his captain band?