European players who switched their nationality to play for Cameroon – 2022 World Cup

But for the change of the FIFA football calendar for 2022, the world would be enjoying the world cup by now.

Due to several factors, including whether the world football governing body considers the Mundial scheduled to be staged in Qatar will now come off between November and December.

Africa will not be left out of the historic world cup with five countries representing the continent.

One of the five countries, Cameroon has a lot of good memories and will be eager to leave a mark.

Keen on making use of every available arsenal, the Indomitable Lions are expected to go to the 2022 FIFA World Cup with some talented players born in Europe but have decided to switch nationality.

In this article, we run through some of the top talents that look set to play for Cameroon after making the switch either this year or a few years back.

Georges-Kevin N’koudou

Born in France to Cameroonian parents, Georges N’koudou was a youth international for France at various levels and progressed through the ranks with many prospects.

Unfortunately, chances to play for Les Bleus became hard to come by when reached the senior level.

After years of waiting, the talented forward who once graced the English Premier League in the shirt of Tottenham Hotspur has decided to represent Cameroon.

He completed his nationality switch from France to Cameroon on May 13, 2022.

Subsequently, he was called to the Cameroon national football team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification. He played his first match against Burundi on June 9, 2022.

Currently a star for Besiktas in the Turkish Super Lig, Georges N’koudou has a lot of talent and will become a regular in the Cameroon national team.

He should be in the Cameroon squad representing Africa at the 2022 FIFA World Cup without injuries.

Onguene Jerome

A top defender by all standards, Onguene Jerome, has become a regular in the Cameroon national team over the last few years.

The former Red Bull Salzburg defender in August 2018 switched his allegiance to Cameroon.

Before deciding to play for the country of his parents, Onguene Jerome had represented the various France youth national teams from the U16 to the U20.

After completing his switch, he was invited for the match against Comoros in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification but did not feature. His debut appearance came in a 1-0 win over Malawi on October 12, 2018.

While he may not be a star on the national team, he has made sure he always fought for the flag of his country, anything he is given the platform to play.

The talented defender who grew up in France has joined German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.

He must fight to take his game a notch higher to merit a place in the Cameroon national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Moukoudi Harold

Moukoudi Harold, 24, is another player born in France with Cameroonian roots. Like Georges N’koudou and Onguene Jerome, the center-back played for France’s various youth national teams before deciding in 2019 to switch nationality to represent the country of his parents.

He debuted for the Indomitable Lions in a friendly tie with Tunisia on October 12, 2019.

The France-born defender spent his youth days at Le Havre, where he developed. He previously played in England for Middlesbrough but has spent the last two seasons playing for Saint-Etienne in the French Ligue 1.

With as many as 52 appearances for the French club throughout the last two seasons, Moukoudi has managed to chip in with three important goals.

With 11 caps for the Cameroon national team since making the switch, he proved he can be relied on with good performances in the three matches he played at the 2021 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Should he excel with Saint-Etienne in the first few months of the 2022/23 French Ligue 1 season, he could be one of a few players born in Europe that will be invited to join the Cameroon national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Christopher Wooh

Christopher Wooh, 20, has many years ahead of him and has been put in the bracket of the ‘new school’ by many Cameroonians who are optimistic he will be part of the senior national team for the next decade and more.

Born in France, the youngster looked destined to represent the European national team, having displayed enormous talent in his youthful days.

A few months ago, the French passport holder pledged his allegiance to Cameroon after the Samuel Eto’o-led football association approached him.

The former Nancy defender in June marked his debut for the Indomitable as a late substitute in the 1-0 win against Burundi in the qualifiers for the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

With his impressive displays in the 14 matches he played for Lens last season in the French Ligue 1, many are convinced he will merit a place in the Cameroon national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Sacha Boey

Sacha Boey’s story is slightly different from the four players mentioned earlier. Largely only because he has completed his nationality switch, he has yet to debut for the Cameroon national team officially.

He was recently pre-selected for the Cameroon national team for the 2021 AFCON but missed out on the final squad.

Born in France to Cameroonian parents, Sacha Boey had the opportunity to play for France at youth levels.

While he is yet to debut for the Indomitable Lions officially, he is constantly being monitored by the technical team.

He is seen as one for the future, but no rush to include him in the national team that is spoiled for choice in the defensive department.

If he wants to be in the Cameroon squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he must excel in the shirt of Galatasaray when 2022/23 Turkish Super Lig kicks off.

Yes, there are a lot of places for players born in Europe to make the Cameroon squad for this year’s Mundial; players born in the country are expected to dominate the squad.

Stars such as Vincent Aboubakar, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Karl Toko Ekambi, Andre Zambo Anguissa, and Andre Onana are just a handful of the regulars that will easily make the squad for the Qatar World Cup.