Cameroon star Bryan Mbeumo targets victory against Ivory Coast in friendly

Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo has set his sights on victory when the Indomitable Lions take on Ivory Coast in an international friendly.

The Indomitable Lions will travel to face the Elephant at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in a high-profile match on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Abidjan.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, October 2, Mbeumo acknowledged the significance of playing against a strong Ivory Coast side but stressed that, as a competitor, his primary objective is to help Cameroon secure victory.

“Every player dreams of playing this sort of match, and I’m no exception. I’ll be very happy to win. But I think the performance is important. As a competitor, I want to win,” Mbeumo said.

The fixture comes just days after both nations completed the opening two rounds of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Cameroon have made a solid start to their qualifying campaign, recording one victory and one draw from their opening two matches. The Indomitable Lions began with a 3-1 win over Comoros before sharing the points with Congo in their second fixture.

Ivory Coast, meanwhile, have enjoyed a perfect start and sit on six points after winning both of their opening qualifying matches.

Despite the friendly nature of Saturday’s encounter, Mbeumo believes the match presents Cameroon with an important opportunity to test themselves against one of Africa’s leading sides.

The clash will also provide both coaching teams with the chance to assess their squads and experiment with tactical approaches ahead of the next stage of the international calendar.

Cameroon head coach David Pagou will be keen to use the game to evaluate his players and build on the progress made during the opening AFCON qualifiers, while Ivory Coast coach Hervé Renard will similarly look to gather valuable information from his squad.

For Mbeumo, however, the competitive instinct remains clear. The Manchester United forward wants Cameroon to combine a strong performance with a positive result as the Indomitable Lions prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.

With two traditionally strong African football nations meeting in Abidjan, Saturday’s encounter promises to be a significant test for both sides despite carrying no competitive points.