Cameroon closes out AFCON qualifying with clean sheet

The Indomitable Lions wrapped up their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw in Abidjan.

Their hosts, Ivory Coast, needed no more than a point to secure their own qualification for the January tournament - which will be played in Equatorial Guinea.

As such, despite the fact Cameroon was on the road and facing a lineup including Yaya Toure, Gervinho, Salomon Kalou, Lacina Traore and Wilfried Bony (who came on as a substitute for Traore), it is perhaps best not to try to make too much of the fact that the visitors shutout one of the presumptive heavyweights of African soccer.

This was a tough match on paper for Cameroon, made tougher when Stephane Mbia was sent off in the 57th minute, but the Lions weathered the storm and the game degenerated into little more than passing practice by the end.

Nonetheless, this was Oyongo's third consecutive start for his country - and the third consecutive time he's been deployed as a right back. Whether this defensive versatility redounds to the Red Bulls' benefit remains to be seen.

Still, lackluster or not, there should be little doubt Oyongo was lining up against players who would be expected to dominate in MLS. If there is a positive reason to miss most of the last week of RBNY's preparation for the Eastern Conference final, surely it must be to play a (mostly) competitive game against internationally renowned stars?

The result was immaterial to Cameroon's qualification for the AFCON finals - that was secured with last week's win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Oyongo returns to Harrison hoping his work during the international break and his contribution to whatever RBNY's playoff future holds will be sufficient to win him a place on the roster picked to represent the Indomitable Lions in Equatorial Guinea.