Cameroon boss David Pagou says his side his here to “challenge” the Socceroos in the FIFA Series despite being in a rebuild phase, and missing a number of their stars, including Manchester United star Bryan Mbueno.
Speaking to football360.com.au at Jubilee Oval in Kogarah, Sydney, Pagou said this FIFA Series is critical preparation for his side for the AFCON qualifiers, starting in September. They will also play China in Melbourne on Tuesday, as they look to rebound from missing out on the World Cup, and a quarter final finish at this year’s African Cup of Nations.
“The last four matches I watched, they are a good team. Play total football.
“It’s new for me to play that kind of team because we play only the Africa team.
“So now it’s a continental team, Australia. The last match against Cameroon, we draw, I mean. So tomorrow (Friday) we are going to play, to make them, to top them.
“That is our feeling now because we came here to challenge them. There is a team with a new coach since 2024. So we are there in the only one year. So we are going to challenge them.
“I know that it’s a good team because they qualified to the World Cup. So it’s not easy to qualify and then when it’s qualified that means that there is a potential, a good potential, a good player, a good coach.
“So tomorrow we are going to challenge them.”
Cameroon training. Photos: Ann Odong
Cameroon will be without Mbueno, who Socceroos boss Tony Popovic would have loved to have faced.
“It is disappointing. Hhe’s obviously doing very, very well for his club at the moment and helping them improve their form,” Popovic said.
“You always want to challenge yourself against the best. And that’s why we’ve been very happy that the FA has given us so many great games since we qualified, to challenge us against the best in different environments.
“He’s an exciting player that I’m sure the fans would have loved to see. I would have loved to have seen him on the park, to see his qualities and see what we can do, against him and, and obviously try and cause him problems the other way with. He’s a great attacker, but can we force him back and force him to do things he doesn’t want to do? So that would have been a great challenge. But, that’s part of football.
“And we’ve experienced it ourselves with so many injuries that come and it opens up a door for another player for Cameroon, as it does for, for us when, you know, we suffer injury ourselves.”
On Friday’s opponent, Popovic added: “We’re delighted they’re here. We know the history that they’ve had in football.
Photo: Getty Images
“I’m sure they’ll be disappointed in not going to the World Cup, but that doesn’t take away from the challenge that we have in front of us.
“They’re very physical. They have great individuals. And it’s a good challenge.
“It’s one that we’re looking forward to. But, putting aside who we’re playing, which is always a pleasure to play, teams from different continents and different styles, I’m really looking forward to seeing what the boys can do, in what we can do on the field with and without the ball. And that’s probably the most anticipated part for me. Looking forward to seeing them out on the park and really playing well, a couple of uncapped players in the squad.”