Song, Choupo-Moting, Oyongo out of SA clashes

There is nothing but bad news for injury-plagued Cameroon at the moment, as the Indomitable Lions are preparing for their double header with South Africa in Group M of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Already without midfielder Eyong Enoh, winger Clinton N’Jie and striker Léonard Kweuke due to injury, while sweating over the fitness of Benjamin Moukandjo, Cameroon’s new head coach Hugo Broos will also have to cope with the absence of Impact Montreal full-back Ambroise Oyongo-Bitolo, West Ham midfielder Alexandre Song and Schalke forward Eric Choupo-Moting.

“For medical reasons, I will not be joining the national team for our 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa,” Oyongo stated on his Facebook account.

Injured in Schalke’s 1-1 draw with Stuttgart on 21 February, Choupo-Moting resumed training only last week and ultimately turned down his call-up, as did Alexandre Song who had announced his international retirement in January 2015.

Broos, who also have to deal with the absence of suspended Vincent Aboubakar in the first game, called up AC Léopards defender Abouna Ntsana and FC Metz midfielder George Mandjeck as a replacement for Oyongo and Song.

The Indomitable Lions will host Bafana Bafana in Limbé on 26 March, before taking them on in Durban three days later.