Former Cameroon international Victor Ndip has warned fans of the Indomitable Lions not to expect too much from their team at this summer’s World Cup finals. « I firmly believe that it will be very difficult for us to negotiate our way through the competition, » he said.
After becoming the first team since Ghana in 1965 to win back to back African Nations in Mali in January, expectations are high that Cameroon can surpass the achievements of 1990, when they became the first African side to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
But Ndip, who played in the World Cups of 1990 and 1994 has warned that Cameroon cannot seriously expect to lift the trophy, although he accepts that the present side is stronger than his generation.
« We’ll win some games, but I don’t think we’ll win the trophy, » he said.
A left-sided midfielder Ndip came into the national team in 1988, after playing in the junior side.
By 1990, he had dropped back into a more defensive role, and became noted for his long throws.
He retired from the team in 1994, before a failed attempt at professional football in the USA. He now coaches a provincial second division side, Lakers FC Kumba.