Germany 2017: Profile - Cameroon

Head Coach:Jean-Marie Zambo

Key players:Jacqueline Mossy Solle (Pivot), Pasma Nchouapouognigni (Pivot), Marie Touba Byolo (Right Wing)

Qualification for Germany 2017:3rd Place–2016 CAHB African Women’s Championship

History in Tournament:1957-2003: DNP/DNQ, 2005: 22nd, 2007-2015: DNQ

Overview

Back in 2005, Cameroon were one of two teams from Africa to qualify for the IHF Women’s World Championship in Russia, along with Cote d’Ivoire. The qualification represented the debut appearance for the African nation in a Women’s World Championship.

Their experience in St. Petersburg was not one to remember on court as they lost all five of their games, against Ukraine (34:23), Romania (50:19)–who would go on to lose the final, France (33:17), FYR Macedonia (44:24) and a very narrow final group defeat against Argentina (21:20).

Cameron qualified for their second Women’s World Championship at Germany 2017 thanks to a bronze medal at the 2016 CAHB African Women’s Championship, held in Luanda, Angola last November and December. The third place was surprising as they had an underwhelming preliminary round, finishing third out of five teams, beating Cote d’Ivoire (22:17) in their first game, before losing to the dominant continental force of Angola in their second match (30:14) in a match where they could only score five first half goals.

They managed to pick themselves up in their third group game, against DR Congo as, led by an impressive 15 goals from Touba, they fought hard to win 26:24 and, despite a 24:15 loss to Senegal in their final group game, they qualified through to the quarter-finals where they breezed past Congo 32:27.

Both 25-year-old pivot Pasma Nchouapouognigni and the left-handed 24-year-old Marie Touba Byolo on the right wing were influential in the goalscoring stakes to get through to the final four but a dream final was not possible as a loss to Angola (31:19) in the semi-finals saw them through to the third-place match.

But due to Senegal, their opponents, having fielded an ineligible player, Cameroon were granted a ticket to Germany 2017 with a walkover win.

More recently, Cameroon claimed another bronze, at the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in May, in Baku, Azerbaijan which featured just four teams.

After losing to Azerbaijan (28:26) and Turkey (33:31) in the Preliminary Round, they overcame Uzbekistan 41:25 in the final preliminary round match. Another loss (34:18) to Turkey in the semi-finals saw them go through to the bronze medal match where they managed to beat Uzbekistan 35:27 (18:14).

The women’s team are coached by Jean-Marie Zambo who has overseen many international tournaments with the team and has started preparing for Germany 2017 ever since qualification was sealed last year.

“This is our second time at a World Championship since 2005 and we want to show that we know handball,”he continued.“We will inevitably meet very large teams, but we are going to play thoroughly. We are not going to be resigned, but to be honourable.

In their opening match they will face the hosts–and it’s the only game of the day, meaning all eyes will be on his team.

“On the contrary, it galvanises us,”said Zambo in response to being asked if starting against Germany frightens him.“The fact that Cameroon plays before the whole world is great. Certainly, it will be the first time to play in opening match against Germany, but we will keep our morale.”

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Group D–Arena Leipzig, Leipzig

Netherlands, Germany, Serbia, Korea, China, Cameroon

Preliminary Round games at Germany 2017:

All times local

• Friday 1 December: GER-CMR (19:00)
• Sunday 3 December: CMR-SRB (14:00)
• Tuesday 5 December: NED-CMR (15:30)
• Wednesday 6 December: CMR-KOR (12:00)
• Friday 8 December: CHN-CMR (14:00)