Cameroon coach David Pagou wary of wounded Congo threat ahead of AFCON qualifier derby

Head coach of Cameroon David Pagou has warned his players to expect a difficult encounter when the Indomitable Lions travel to Brazzaville to face the Republic of Congo in the second round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Cameroon will take on the Red Devils on Tuesday, September 29, at the Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium, with both Central African neighbours looking for an important result in the qualifying campaign.

The Indomitable Lions made a strong start to their campaign, securing a 3-1 victory over Comoros in Garoua in their opening fixture.

Congo, however, suffered defeat on matchday one and will be determined to respond in front of their home supporters.

Pagou expects that situation to make the match even more challenging, particularly because of the rivalry between the two neighbouring nations.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Cameroon coach played down the significance of his side’s opening victory and insisted there would be no clear favourite when the two teams meet.

“A derby is never easy. There’ll be extra motivation. We know we’re up against an opponent who’s hurting after their defeat in the first match,” Pagou said.

“We hope the lads will rise to the occasion to put in a good performance and win the match. There will be no clear favourite; we’ll come out and play to our strengths.”

Pagou’s comments underline Cameroon’s awareness of the threat posed by Congo, who will be eager to avoid another setback after their disappointing start.

The Indomitable Lions, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their 3-1 victory over Comoros and strengthen their position in the race for qualification.

With the two sides separated by a relatively short distance and sharing a regional rivalry, the encounter is expected to be fiercely contested when the teams meet in Brazzaville.

Cameroon will hope their attacking performance from the opening round can be replicated, while Congo will be seeking a response to their first-match defeat and a much-needed boost to their qualification hopes.