Brentford star Mbeumo eyes World Cup place with Cameroon
France-born English Premier League forward Bryan Mbeumo hopes
switching national team loyalty to Cameroon can win him a place at the 2022
World Cup in Qatar.
Brentford star Mbeumo is one of many wanting to impress from
Thursday as the five African qualifiers - Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal
and Tunisia - play two warm-up matches each.
Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey and Athletic Bilbao forward
Inaki Williams, both born in Europe to Ghanaian parents, are among others
taking advantage of a FIFA rule that permits changing allegiance.
An increasing number of footballers from Europe are choosing
to represent the African country where their parents or grandparents were born.
Opponents for the African quintet between Thursday and
Tuesday range from record five-time World Cup winners Brazil to Nicaragua,
ranked 139th in the world.
Here, AFP Sport reveals how the qualifiers are shaping up for
the last international window until club football halts just seven days before
the World Cup kicks off on November 20.
Cameroon
Apart from selecting Mbeumo for the first time, coach
Rigobert Song has recalled Nicolas Nkoulou and George Mandjeck for matches in
South Korea against the host nation and Uzbekistan.
Defender Nkoulou last lined up for the Indomitable Lions five
years ago and midfielder Mandjeck has not featured for the five-time African
champions since 2019.
"We need experienced players like Nicolas and George,
who will help our new generation of players grow. They are passionate and
patriotic," said Song.
Ghana have included Lamptey, Williams and former Germany
youth internationals Stephan Ambrosius and Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer for
matches against Brazil and Nicaragua in France and Spain.
There is also a place in the squad for Southampton defender
Mohammed Salisu, who was born in Ghana but declined previous call-ups, saying
he wanted to concentrate on his club career.
Coach Otto Addo, mastermind of a shock qualification at the
expense of Nigeria, has picked five Premier League players, including Arsenal
midfielder Thomas Partey and Crystal Palace forward Jordan Ayew.
Most attention will be on Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech when
six-time World Cup qualifiers Morocco tackle Chile and Paraguay at Spanish
venues.
He has been recalled by new coach Walid Regragui after being
shunned by Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, who accused the Premier League player of
being "untruthful" and "a trouble maker".
"We look forward to the Hakim that all Moroccans love,
the one who fights on the pitch and gives everything for his country,"
said former international Regragui.
African champions Senegal have been hit by a string of blows
before facing Bolivia and fellow qualifiers Iran in France and Slovakia.
Bayern Munich full-back Bouna Sarr will miss Qatar due to
knee surgery and forward Keita Balde can only play at the World Cup after the
second round due to an anti-doping violation.
A further concern for coach Aliou Cisse is defender Noah
Fadiga - the son of 2002 Senegal World Cup midfielder Khalilou - who suffered
concussion playing in France last weekend.
Consistently poor World Cup performers Tunisia will face
Africa Cup of Nations surprise packets the Comoros and star-studded Brazil in
France.
"Tackling Brazil is a daunting task," admits
captain and leading scorer Wahbi Khazri, "but it will be a great reality
check, telling us where we are strong and where we must improve".
Tunisia have won only two and lost nine of 15 matches in five
World Cup appearances, with 40 years separating victories over Mexico and
Panama.
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