Group C team preview: Cameroon

          Goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom and Cameroon hope to build off their 2012 London Olympics appearance. Julian Finney/Getty Images
          • Doug McIntyreMay 18, 2015, 05:15 PM ET
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              Doug McIntyre is a staff writer for ESPN The Magazine. He has covered American and international soccer since 2002.
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          Group C: Japan | Switzerland | Cameroon | Ecuador

          Cameroon gained valued experience on the international stage at the 2012 London Olympics. Can it build upon that in Canada?

          The journey

          Cameroon, a perennial African championship contender, had never quite made the next step to reach the Women's World Cup until last year's African qualifying. Les Lionnes received a preliminary-round bye, then won a home-and-home against Senegal to qualify for the continental championship in Namibia. A 1-0 upset of South Africa and a 2-0 victory over Algeria in their first two group matches were enough for Les Lionnes to advance to the tourney semifinals, where they dispatched Ivory Coast to reach their first Cup.

          World rankings

          Cameroon peaked at No. 52 overall in the FIFA rankings last year.

          The rep

          Defense. Cameroon conceded just one goal in three first-round games (and four in five overall) at the African Women's Championship. Much of the credit for that goes to keeper Annette Ngo Ndom, perhaps Cameroon's most important player and the goalkeeper of the tournament in last year's African championship. Up front, coach Enow Ngachu's team is skillful, fast and -- though it averaged just a goal per game throughout qualifying -- opportunistic. Les Lionnes also have a good deal of tournament savvy for a debutante, given that they reached the 2012 Olympics and about half their AWC squad plays for clubs overseas.

          Projected formation

          Cameroon is expected to use a 4-4-2 lineup:

          The question

          Has this team improved since London? Cameroon's major tournament debut, an ugly 0-3 record and minus-10 goal differential (padded by a 5-0 loss to Brazil), didn't leave a good first impression. It won't get any easier in Canada, where Cameroon has drawn into a group containing defending world champ Japan. Ngo Ndom can fend off only so many attempts on goal, so the rest of the defense must shore up, and the offense must create and finish good chances.

          Players to watch

          Here are three Cameroon players who should be on your radar:

          • Christine Manie, D: Manie, a rugged defender and Cameroon's captain, is among the squad's most experienced players, having also played in the squad's 2007 qualifiers.

          • Raissa Feudjio, MF: At 19, the youngest player on Cameroon's AWC squad could provide crucial offense. She scored twice in eight games last year, her first in the Turkish League.

          • Annette Ngo Ndom, GK: A part of Cameroon's 2012 Olympic side, the 30-year-old Ngo Ndom also has Champions League experience with her Slovakian club Nove Zamky.

          Group-stage schedule

          Cameroon's first two matches will be at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, while the third will be held at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton:

          • June 8: Ecuador, 7 p.m. ET
          • June 12: Japan, 10 p.m. ET
          • June 16: Switzerland, 5 p.m. ET

          Foudy's take

          Julie Foudy

          Defending champion Japan leads Group C with three teams playing in their first Women's World Cup, including Cameroon. With Switzerland benefiting from the expanded field after coming oh-so-close in the past, I can't see Cameroon or Ecuador advancing as a third-place team from this group.

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