The Indomitable Lions are currently the 7th highest ranked team in Africa, taking 40th place in the FIFA rankings.

However, after their poor showing at this summer’s World Cup, they have proven to be a much better team in their AFCON qualifiers, having secured qualification from their group containing the Ivory Coast, the DRC and Sierra Leone with four wins and a draw from their five matches.

Nine goals and only one conceded prove that they have a solid defence, which will undoubtedly make them a difficult opponent to beat in the knockout rounds of this AFCON tournament.

Another factor that will work in their favour will be their relatively similar geography and climate, given that host country, Equatorial Guinea is a neighbour to the central Africans.

Coach, Volker Finke will be hoping that his major European stars, such as captain, Stephane Mbia, will help his team to a good showing at the tournament in January.

Cameroon’s history in the tournament surely makes them a formidable opponent, with them being the third most successful AFCON country, having won the title on four occasions (most recently in 2010). Their recent form in the tournament is not bad either, having finished runners-up in 2013.

With the promising Barcelona-B shot-stopper, Fabrice Ondoa in goal and defenders like the experienced Nicolas N’Koulou and Henri Bedimo, they will be able to hold their own against the attacking threats of some of the top teams In midfield, Sevilla’s Stephane Mbia will add quality to the team in the middle of the park, along with Standard Liege’s Eyong Enoh and, of course, West Ham United’s Alex Song.

Up front, Cameroon also boast Schalke and Porto strikers, Eric Maxim Choupa-Moting and Vincent Aboubakar, while the young Clinton N’Jie may be a revelation at the tournament…

So, Cameroon have more than enough quality in their team, they have favourable conditions and a strong historical advantage over many of their opponents, which means that they are undoubtedly a strong opponent that Bafana and Shakes Mashaba need to be prepared to play against come January. They aren’t in bad form either, so, Africa beware!