Brice Ambina gets Cameroon call-up

Cape Town City midfielder Brice Ambina has been handed his debut senior call-up for the Indomitable Lions September pre-FIFA World Cup friendlies against Uzbekistan and South Korea.

Ambina, 20, is the only foreign-based player campaign on the continental in the 36-member team coach Rigobert Song unveiled over the weekend.

The midfielder joined Cape Town City in January on a four-year deal after impressing at the 2021 U20 AFCON in Mauritania, where Cameroon made a quarterfinal exit.

Ambina is joined in the team by two home-based players who were part of Cameroon’s successful qualification to the 2023 CHAN that Algeria will host in January.

The home-based duo is Coton Sport forward Patient Wassou and Canon Yaoundé goalkeeper James Djaoyang.

Ambina is also one of four Under-23 prospects in the team that includes Olympique de Marseille goalkeeper Simon Ngapandouetnbu and 22-year-old FC Porto striker Daniel Namaso.

The other is defender Darlin Yongwa of French club Lorient.

City signed the midfielder from Renaissance FC earlier this year on a contract that expires in June 2026. He will be expected to play a massive role in the CAF Champions League.

Cameroon kick off their September friendly itinerary against Uzbekistan on September 23 in the northern South Korean town of Goyang.

The Indomitable Lions will then travel back to Seoul to play South Korea on September 27 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Meanwhile, Cameroon is in Group G at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and is drawn against Switzerland, Serbia and five-time World champions Brazil.

Africa’s most successful FIFA World Cup campaigners are heading for a continental record 8th appearance but have made it out of the group stage just once in 1990.

Tunisia, Morocco and Nigeria are tied at six FIFA World Cup appearances each.