30 years later, Cameroon’s president Paul Biya has signed a decree ordering the allocation of modern accommodations to each of the 22 Indomitable Lions, the national team players who took part in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Mr Biya reacted 48 hours after he received a letter from local sports personalities in the country.
He instructed his collaborators to make available housing facilities to each of the team players.
But some Cameroonians have criticsed the move which comes few days after the death of Stephen Tataw
Stephen was the captain who led the Indomitable Lions to the 1990 world cup where they defeated the mighty Argentina, Romania and Colombia
At 57, Stephen died in Yaounde after a prolonged sickness, many said he was neglected.
According to the Director of the SIC (Société Immobilier du Cameroun), the allocation of the modern buildings will be executed in the days ahead.
Here Is The 1990 Squad
(as published by CRTV)
1. Goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell
He was at the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cup but did not play any matche. He was also selected for the squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA where he eventually made his debut, playing in two of Cameroon’s group matches. After Cameroon’s elimination in 1994, enraged fans set fire on Bell’s house in Douala. Bell today serves in an advisory role in the Cameroonian soccer Federation.
2. Midfielder, Andre Kana-Biyick
He is a former Cameroonian footballer. Brother of François, he started a professional career in 1986 with Diamant Yaounde. With Cameroon national football team he participated at 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cup. He was sent off in Cameroon’s opening game of the 1990 World Cup, a game against Argentina that Cameroon won 1-0. His son Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, is currently on the books of Stade Rennes.
3. Defender Jules Onana
He played for the club Canon Yaounde, and also took part in the1990 FIFA World Cup, playing 3 of the 5 matches of the Cameroon national football team. He retired in 2005 playing in several clubs in Camerron, France and Indonesia. He is a player agent in Asia, including Singaporean football player Agu Casmir and Pierre Njanka. He had 56 caps for Cameroon national football team.
4. Defender, Benjamin Massing
Massing, who played professionally for, among others, France’s US Créteil-Lusitanos (1987–91), he was picked up for Cameroon’s squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, where he was famously sent off in the opening game for a spectacular foul on Argentina’s Claudio Caniggia (in a 1–0 shock win). Massing also appeared in the quarterfinal loss against England (2–3) where he was booked, conceding a penalty for committing a foul on Gary Lineker. Internationally, Massing gained 21 international caps in four and a half years, and took part in three Africa Cup of Nations, He led a modest private life since and died in 2017
5. Defender Bertin Ebwelle
Ebwellé is a retired professional footballer who represented Cameroon at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He also took part in the 1992 African Nations Cup. He played club football with Tonnerre Yaoundé, Persisam Putra Samarinda and Olympic Mvolyé. He is now a coach in Cameroon.
6. Defender, Emmanuel Kunde
He was also a member of the Cameroon national team at the World Cups of 1982 and 1990, and won the 1984 and 1988 African Nations Cups. Kundé scored the winning goal in the 1988 African Nations Cup final against Nigeria with a penalty kick. Two years later, in the 1990 World Cup quarterfinal match against England, he scored to equalize the score 1-1, again via a penalty kick. He also took part in 1992 African Nations Cup while playing for Olympic Mvolyé. In 2013, Kunde’s 1990 WC teammate, Emmanuel Maboang Kessack organised a party to celebrate his retirement.
7. Forward, Francois Omam-Biyick
He was one of the most important players of the Cameroonian national team in the nineties, playing at the three World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 1998. Omam-Biyik retired after the 1999/2000 season. He was in Colima, Mexico, where he served as coach of the city’s Second Division professional soccer team. Omam-Biyik is a football consultant.
8. Midfielder, Emile M’Bouh M’Bouh
Émile Belmont M’Bouh M’Bouh is a retired Cameroonian international footballer who played professionally in France, Qatar, Portugal, Singapore and Malaysia. Mbouh participated at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and 1994 FIFA World Cup. Mbouh runs the Emile Mbouh Soccer Academy, and also served as coach of FC Rockville, a youth team based in the United States.
9. Forward, Roger Milla
He helped Cameroon reached the quarter-finals at the 1990 World Cup. Roger Milla is also remembered for his trademark goal celebration of running to the “corner flag” and gently exhibiting an incredible dance. In the years that have followed, He is a football roving ambassador. He is in list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by FIFA. He runs an organization aimed at empowering youths named “Fondation Roger Milla”
10. Midfielder, Louis-Paul M’Fede
Louis-Paul M’Fédé (February 26,1961 – 10 June 2013) was a Cameroonian soccer player who played midfield. He played at the FIFA World Cup with Cameroon in 1990 and 1994. The late player also took part at the 1988, 1990 and 1992 African Nations Cup. He died of a lung infection on 10 June 2013.
11.Forward, Eugene Ekeke
He famously scored to give Cameroon the lead against England at the quarter finals, before eventually losing 3-2. Ekéké is now based in Douala, occasionally commenting on matters regarding the Indomitable Lions in the local media.
12. Defender, Alphonse Yombi
He was a member of the Cameroon squad at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. As a professional, he played among others in his home at Canon Yaounde and Olympic Mvolyé, and in Europe at Stade Laval in France, Vejle BK in Denmark and Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. in Greece. He quit the game for good.
13. Defender, Jean-Claude Pagal
In 2008, he put pen to paper, to join the MTN Elite I club, Tiko United. The then 44 year old, who is based in France, became one of the oldest players in the history of Cameroon’s Division I football. He told the press that he was coming home to play to set an example for youth footballers. He however, retired and is now working with youth football schemes.
14. Defender, Stephen Tataw
At the club level, he played with Tonnerre Yaounde from 1988 to 1991, and for Olympic Mvolyé from 1992 to 1994. He is probably best remembered as the captain of Cameroon during their historical run at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, where the team became the first African nation to reach quarterfinals. He now works with the Cameroonian soccer federation.
15. Defender, Thomas Libiih
Now a retired Cameroonian footballer, he played for various clubs, including Tonnerre Yaoundé and Ohud Medina. He also participated in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and 1994 FIFA World Cup. He was appointed Head Coach of the baby lions, U-17. He led the team to the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
16. Goalkeepper, Thomas N’Kono
Arguably the greatest goalkeeper Africa has ever produced.
N’Kono appeared for the Cameroonian national team in three World Cups. In 2002, N’Kono was arrested by riot police for allegedly using “black magic”, prior to the African Cup of Nations semi-final against Mali (3–0 win). Nkono is now a roving ambassador today with various CAF initiatives.
17. Defender, Victor N’Dip Akem
Victor N’Dip Akem (born August 18, 1967), is a retired Cameroonian football player. Among the clubs he played for included Canon Yaoundé and Olympic Mvolyé. He also participated at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and 1994 FIFA World Cup.
18. Foward, Boneventure Djonkep
As a full international he appeared in two qualifying matches for the 1986 FIFA World Cup against Zambia in April 1985. He then played for Cameroon in the 1987 All-Africa Games and in the 1988 African Cup of Nations. He was called up by coach Valeri Nepomniachi to the Cameroon squad which participated the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He now coaches in local football.
19. Midfielder, Roger Feutmba
He was named in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1990 African Nations Cup and 1992 African Nations Cup squads for Cameroon. He also runs a clothing shop and a supermarket with his wife.
20, Midfielder, Cyrille Makanaky
During the 1988 edition in Morocco, he scored the game’s only goal, helping defeat the hosts in the semifinals (eventually winning the trophy). Makanaky also represented the nation at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, playing all five matches (two complete) as the team reached the quarterfinals.
21. Forward, Emmanuel Maboang Kessack
He also participated at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and 1994 FIFA World Cup. He has since become a very successful player’s agent focused on Southeast Asia. He still follows the Indomitable Lions intently.
22. GoalKeeper, Jacques Songo’o
Songo’o featured for Cameroon in every FIFA World Cup from 1990 to 2002, although only as first-choice in the 1998 edition.
In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Songo’o was part of Paul Le Guen’s coaching staff. After the tournament, which ended at the group stage, he led Cameroon to a 3–0 victory over Poland, on an interim coach.
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