Indomitable Lions look tear National Elephants apart

Cameroon will be eyeing a winning start when they face Guinea in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group C game at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Monday.

Kick-off is at 7:00 pm CAT.

CURRENT FORM

The Indomitable Lions are coming into this match undefeated in their last three games across all competitions having drawn 1-1 with Zambia in a friendly match on 9 January.

Cameroon - the five-time African champions - have won two of their last three matches in the Afcon finals including a third-place playoff match at the 2021 edition as they finished third.

Meanwhile, Guinea returned to winning ways when they defeated Nigeria 2-0 in a friendly game on 8 January and before that, Botswana had ended their three-match unbeaten run.

The Syli National (National Elephants) are winless in their last three matches in the Afcon finals - losing two matches in a row and drawing once at the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

TEAM NEWS

Cameroon will be without Andre Onana who is expected to join the team in Ivory Coast on Monday while Vincent Aboubakar is currently nursing an injury, but he is still part of the squad.

Meanwhile, Morlaye Sylla was reportedly left out of the Guinea squad for the Afcon finals after falling out with the head coach Kaba Diawara who has been monitoring key striker Serhou Guirassy.

WHAT WAS SAID?

Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar

"As you can see, today there are no small teams in Africa," Aboubakar told CAF Online after Cameroon arrived in Ivory Coast.

"The competition will not be easy, and we must be strong to continue the competition. All the teams have the capabilities to compete with the big teams, and therefore there is no small team."

Guinea head coach Kaba Diawara

"He came off to avoid any risks," Diawara told the media when asked about Guirassy who had limped off early in a friendly against Nigeria.

"We don't know how serious it is now, but it doesn't look too serious. I can only hope it's nothing serious."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Karl Toko Ekambi: With Aboubakar an injury doubt, Cameroon are likely to look to the Abha Club striker to lead the attack and inspire the Indomitable Lions to a victory over Guinea.

Naby Keita: The experienced central midfielder is Guinea's inspirational captain and he will be determined to play an integral role in helping his nation overcome the Indomitable Lions.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Cameroon and Guinea have met 19 times across all competitions. The Indomitable Lions have won seven matches compared to National Elephants' five victories and seven games ended in a draw.

The last meeting between the two teams in the Afcon finals ended in a 1-1 draw at the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea in January 2015