Soccer News of Monday, 26 January 2015

Source: Cameroon Tribune

AFCON 2015: Cameroon player ratings

The following write-up revisits the performance of Indomitable Lions players during their last match against Guinea Conakry.

Joseph Fabrice Ondoa Ebogo

The young goalkeeper has so far marveled spectators with his immense talents but his increasingly losing concentration and his tendency to try to dribble attackers might cost him dear. However, he has been Cameroon savior in the Mali and Guinea games. He made two great saves at the 18th and 35th minute coming out victorious in a face to face duel with Ibrahima Traore.

Nicolas Nkoulou

He was the boss of the defense with intelligent defending without use of brutal force, yet very combative. He provided cover to Chedjou each time he mounted to the second line of defense. He demonstrated leadership skills encouraging his team mates to play with more determination and re-position them on the field. His performance was above average.

Raoul Loe

Raoul Loe has never been able to imprint his mark. He was simply transparent against Guinea. He manifested signs of fatigue even before the end of the third quarter of the game. His replacement with frank Kom was justified.

Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo

Bitolo has been one of the major disappointments in the match. He was the highway through which Guinea like Mali before them passed to mount their offensive. The alley was closed by Guihota when he substituted Bitolo proving he was not so efficient in marking.

Benjamin Moukandjo

Good attacking spirit but has a tendency of conserving the ball too much. He scored the goal that was wrongfully attributed to Chedjou as no one touched the corner kick. His performance was above average.

Aboubakar Vincent

The player from FC Port has so much talent yet a nonchalant play style that can be misinterpreted to be lack of interest in the game. He doesn’t fight enough to recover the ball when he loses it. He would have opened scores at the 7th minute but didn’t show enough commitment. His replacement in the game was long overdue and came as a relief.

Edgar Salli

He has been so far the most outstanding player in the tournament and constant in his performance. He is very combative and rushes to regain the ball each time he loses it and together with Choupo-Moting, was the driving force behind Cameroon’s offensive effort.

Bedimo Henri

He has been efficient at the left flank supplying most of the crosses. He is equally good at one-two short passes and doesn’t add any flavor or style to his game. He is a good team player as he puts his individual talents at the service of the collective effort and doesn’t hesitate to give the ball to a better placed player.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting

He is the tactician of the Lions dishing out technical passes and orchestrating most of the offensive effort. He also has good dribbling skills and very combative. Though talented he respects tactical discipline and is not selfish with the ball.

Stephane Mbia

His return was good palliative for the absence of injured Enoh Eyong at the midfield. He won all the airborne duels and participated in almost all efforts but his overzealousness to be everywhere caused some tactical indiscipline at times at the midfield. He came close to scoring the salvation goal for Cameroon towards the dying minutes of the match.

Aurelien Chedjou

Aurelien Chedjou was majestic at the defense but also demonstrated a spirit of fair play, lifting the opponent from the ground and showing interest when the opponent sustained and injury. No doubt he was designated fair play man of the match in the encounter against Guinea.