Newly appointed Cameroon captain Benjamin Moukandjo is proud to be leading the Indomitable Lions into battle at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.
The 28-year-old Lorient striker was recently given the captain’s armband by national team coach Hugo Broos, and since his appointment the team have had to deal with numerous top players opting out of participating in the AFCON in favour of their clubs.
The likes of Liverpool defender Joel Matip and Schalke striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will not be representing Cameroon at the Nations Cup, as they have chosen not to accept their call-ups to the national team.
A number of other European-based players have done the same, significantly weakening a Cameroon team that would otherwise have been on many pundits’ lips as a dark horse.
Moukandjo will now lead his team at the AFCON, but he admits that though he accepts the responsibility, the captaincy does not change things much, as there are still a handful of leaders within the squad who work together for the benefit of the team.
“I am proud, but it doesn’t really change things. There is no extra pressure. Of course it comes with responsibility. There are five or six potential captains in the team and we all try to communicate with one another,” Moukandjo said, according to YahooSport.
The striker was part of the Cameroon squad that disappointed at the 2014 World Cup, failing at the group stage, while he also took part in the AFCON two years ago.
At this month’s competition Cameroon are in Group A alongside Burkina Faso, debutants Guinea-Bissau and the hosts Gabon.
Speaking about the team’s opponents, the skipper admitted respect for all sides that will be in Gabon, with the aim of progressing as far as the Lions can go.
“We don’t fear anyone but we respect all the teams who have qualified. We are going there to try to win our matches and go as far as possible,” Moukandjo added.
“It is going to be a great competition. It has been a while now since we made it past the first round. Our main aim this time will be to do that and go further,” he said.
“If we can get out of the group then we will look at our target again and reassess it as we go along. People will look at our group and say we should get out of it but we still need to go and win the matches,” the captain admitted.
