“No one knew me in Cameroon,” Devis Epassy mentioned right here on Saturday. Two World Cup begins and a Player-of-the-Match award in opposition to Brazil have modified that. So, he sought after to “thank everyone for the support” he were given since he took price of the Cameroon function in opposition to Serbia.
“You have to pinch yourself sometimes,” Aaron Ramsdale had mentioned when the England No 2 goalkeeper was once requested about being on the World Cup. Ramsdale performs for Arsenal who went into the World Cup wreck as Premier League leaders. He has featured in a curated fly-on-the-wall documentary on Arsenal and is used to enjoying in an Emirates packed to the rafters. And but he spoke of getting to coach like he’s the No 1 goalkeeper as a result of differently it’s tough to “flip a switch” and be able.
So, call to mind what Epassy needed to undergo. It was once on Sunday, he mentioned, that Cameroon trainer Rigobert Song informed the No 2 goalkeeper that he would play. Next afternoon, Epassy was once in function denying Aleksandar Mitrovic and pulling out crosses from Filip Kostic. It helped Cameroon pressure a draw, the groups sharing six targets and staying alive until the general set of workforce video games.
On Friday, Epassy was once put thru a extra serious take a look at by way of Brazil. Tite rested 9 avid gamers who began in opposition to Switzerland however the workforce that ran out at Lusail to applause that cut up the night time had Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Fabinho, Fred and Rodrygo. Brazil banged at the Cameroon function from the off; there was once Dani Alves the use of the entire enjoy of a 39-year-old in a free-kick committee together with Martinelli and Rodrygo; there have been adorable passes and sweeping strikes from proper to left and there have been over 88,000 other people, maximum of them now not in Epassy’s nook.
But the 29-year-old who performs within the Saudi Pro League for Abha would now not be thwarted. He crashed into the upright and may proceed best after remedy however Epassy stood between Brazil notching up a tennis-like score-line, making sure Vincent Aboubakar’s function from nowhere in second-half stoppage time would result in an break out to victory. A primary for an African workforce in opposition to the five-time champions.
It nonetheless ended Cameroon’s run – they completed 3rd in the back of Brazil and Switzerland in Group G — however Epassy and trainer Rigobert Song mentioned they may be able to be proud in their efforts. Comments which segued with Brazil head trainer Tite announcing “history will remember me as the first coach from Brazil to lose to an African side.”
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t qualify but that takes nothing away from what we achieved tonight,” mentioned Epassy.
“We showed that anything can happen,” mentioned Song, talking later. Dreadlocks losing to his shoulders, cap pulled firmly over his head, Song, 47, speaks slowly in a deep voice that echoes in press convention rooms and has the air of a person in price.
Song performed his first World Cup in 1994 when he was once with a membership in Yaounde. That defined why he did not hesitate to make use of Epassy in function or Jerome Mbekeli Ngom within the Cameroon best tier. It was once Ngom who equipped Aboubakar the lend a hand.
“You have to be true to yourself. I saw his potential. Just because he plays in the local league he is not a bad player. Hopefully, this will motivate others in the Cameroon league,” mentioned Song.
A nil-1 loss to Switzerland thru a function from Cameroon-born Breel Embolo adopted by way of a come-from-behind draw in opposition to Serbia and the 1-0 win in opposition to Brazil left Song feeling “we could have done better.”
“We are a tender workforce however we were given more potent because the video games went on. If we will keep away from the errors we made, we will be a robust workforce by way of 2024.” Song didn’t mention the name of Andre Onana, who left following reports of disagreements between the coach and the Inter Milan goalkeeper. But he said: “The inner drawback was once resolved in no time and taken the workforce nearer.”
Discipline, Song said, is very important. “It has let us down in the past.”
In 2014, Cameroon players had refused to board the plane to Brazil in a dispute over bonuses and their poor run in the competition, where they lost all group league games, was then marred by allegations of match-fixing.
The elimination notwithstanding, Song indicated he would continue. Appointed on the recommendation of Cameroon president Paul Biya and with a “reactive president of the federation (Samuel Eto’o) who is aware of what avid gamers want,” he said Cameroon have formed a team that is solid. “Now is the start.”