daniel chigunwe
LONDON. — Brazil coach Tite has admitted that he knows little about World Cup football opponents Cameroon, who have been drawn alongside the five-time champions, Serbia and Switzerland in Group G.
The clash between Brazil and Cameroon will be the last group game for both, so allowing both sides to learn a little more about each other in Qatar itself.
“I have no deep knowledge about Cameroon,” Tite told BBC Sport Africa.
“I have a general idea, but I can’t give you specific details as I was geared towards the World Cup qualifiers and in the direct preparation of the team.”
Cameroon, who reached the African Cup of Nations semi-finals on home soil earlier this year, qualified for Qatar in dramatic fashion when scoring a goal four minutes into additional time of extra-time against Algeria on Tuesday. The Algerians have since asked FIFA to replay the match, citing “scandalous” refereeing which “distorted the result”.
The record eight-time African World Cup qualifiers have played Brazil six times, losing every match bar a 2003 Confederations Cup game they won 1-0 – a victory later overshadowed by the death of Marc-Vivien Foe at the same tournament.
Cameroon lost 4-1 to then hosts Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, the last time the Indomitable Lions contested global football’s showpiece event. Tite and Brazil last played the five-time African champions in a 2018 friendly in England where Everton striker Richarlison’s solitary goal proved the difference between the two sides. Clarence Seedorf coached a Cameroon that featured, among others, Bayern Munich’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Lyon striker Karl Toko Ekambi, who scored five goals at the recent Nations Cup.
“Cameroon have players that feature for important clubs in Europe,” said Brazil assistant coach Cleber Xavier.
“The characteristics of African teams are to be intense and strong, with speed.” — BBC Sport Africa.
Online Reporter