Soccer News of Monday, 16 July 2012

Source: Cameroon Tribune

Olympic Games - Indomitable Lionesses - Bearer of All Hopes

They are the only team sport qualified for the London Olympics.

Gone are the days when feminine football was treated with levity in the country. Owing to their winning of the gold medal at the Maputo All African Games and double qualification both for the London Olympics and the Africa Cup of Nations to take place in Equatorial Guinea, the Lionesses have risen in prominence and bear the greatest hopes of winning a medal at the 2012 London Olympics. The hopes devolved on the team stem from the free fall of their male counterparts who despite the special attention from football authorities have not been able to win anything for the fatherland in the past decades. Suddenly, the Lionesses have become the darling of football lovers in the country. In the build up to the London Olympics, the Lionesses were offered special bonuses by Fecafoot and received at the National Assembly by the network of female Parliamentarians who equally gave them the sum of FCFA 5 million.

Despite this euphoria, the Lionesses began their preparation for the London Olympics under precarious circumstances. They began training three days behind schedule due to lack of equipment as Fecafoot and the National Olympic and Sports Committee traded accusations over responsibility. Secondly, their tall ambition to have worthy sparring partners like Canada, Scotland and South Africa, was cut short as they played test matches against little rated Ireland and Scotland during their training camp in Aberdeen. However, the Lionesses put up an honourable performance, beating Ireland 2-0 before bowing to Scotland on an identical score line in a match they dominated but failed to win. Thereby proving they are able to achieve greater things with the necessary means and support.

The Lionesses were involved in a tough draw for the London Olympics, pooled alongside Brazil, New Zealand and host country, Great Britain. They will make their first outing in the competition on July 25th against Brazil. On the 28th of July, they will face the host nation in a test of nerves at high level competition and play the last group match against New Zealand on July 31st. Despite the tough draw, the Lionesses stand the best chance of winning a medal at the London Olympics for Cameroon.