After a lacklustre qualifying group campaign, Cameroon will make their seventh appearance at the Fifa World Cup finals, the highest number for an African team.

The man in charge of Les Lions in Brazil is former Freiburg head coach Volker Finke who was appointed just under a year ago, replacing caretaker manager Jean-Paul Akono.

Under the guidance of the German, the 1990 quarter-finalists topped their CAF qualifying group, despite a moment of controversy following a 2-0 defeat at Togo in June 2013 (Finke’s first competitive game in charge), the hosts fielded an ineligible player and therefore the result was overturned in favour of the visitors.

A two-legged qualifier against Tunisia last autumn was comfortably negotiated, as Les Lions were 4-1 winners on aggregate, which booked their place in Brazil.

Their only friendly since sealing qualification was an extremely disappointing 5-1 defeat at the hands of Portugal in March, where their usually solid defence capitulated in the second half.

Group A awaits the African side, where they face the difficult task of progressing into the knockout stages, with an opening fixture against Mexico, they then face Croatia before a match against the host nation.

As expected Finke’s 28-man squad contained no surprises with the likes of Alex Song, Nicolas N’Koulou and Samuel Eto’o, all making the cut, 26 of which ply their trade in Europe.

Much will depend on the four-time African player of the year. Despite his age and indifferent season at Chelsea, Eto’o remains one of the best finishers around and will need to be on top form if Les Lions are to have a successful tournament.

Cameroon provisional 28-man squad —

Goalkeepers: Charles Itandje (Konyaspor), Ndy Assembe (Guingamp), Sammy Ndjock (Fetihespor), Loic Feudjou (Coton Sport).

Defenders: Allan Nyom (Granada), Dany Nounkeu (Besiktas), Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Aurelien Chedjou (Galatasaray), Nicolas Nkoulou (Marsiglia), Armel Kana-Biyik (Rennes), Henri Bedimo (Lione), Benoît Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Gaetang Bong (Olympiakos).

Midfielders: Eyong Enoh (Antalyaspor), Jean Makoun (Rennes), Joel Matip (Schalke), Stephane Mbia (QPR), Landry Nguemo (Bordeaux), Alex Song (Barcelona), Cedric Loe (Osasuna), Edgar Sally (Lens).

Strikers: Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea), Eric Choupo Moting (Mainz), Benjamin Moukandjo (Nancy), Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Achille Webo (Fenerbahce), Mohamadou Idrissou (Kaiserslautern), Fabrice Olinga (Zulte-Waregem).

Verdict

Brazil and co will be too strong for Cameroon.

A repeat of their 2010 showing where they failed to win a game could be on the cards in south America.

Out at the group stage without picking up a point is the likely outcome for Les Lions.