Cameroon’s Nouhou Tolo stresses importance of victory in World Cup qualifiers

Cameroon, currently leading Group D with eight points, is gearing up for two crucial fixtures in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Eswatini and Libya on March 19 and 25, 2025.

Indomitable Lions defender Nouhou Tolo has underscored the significance of these encounters, describing them as a decisive moment in the team’s qualification campaign.

He considers both matches to be “six-point games” and warns that they will be far from straightforward. Tolo emphasized the need for absolute concentration and a determined approach to secure maximum points.

“I think this is a turning point in our journey towards World Cup qualification. These are six-point matches, and they won’t be easy at all, given how competitive African football has become.

It’s up to us to stay focused, complete the job, and prepare for the next stage in the best possible way,” he told CAF Online.

With only the group winners earning direct qualification for the tournament, Cameroon faces a challenging task. Tolo acknowledged the difficulty but remains confident in the team’s ability to rise to the occasion.

“Is it a tough mission? Yes! Football has evolved a lot, and we have to remain humble and fully focused. But we are Cameroon—it’s up to us to prove that on the pitch.”

The defender insists that a no-compromise approach is essential, urging his teammates to go for victory in every match without relying on other results.

“To qualify, we have to win every match, without making calculations. If we do that, everything else will fall into place.”