Joël Matip, who was called up for the Cameroon-Cape Verde and Cameroon-Egypt matches, will unfortunately be unavailable for both games due to a knee injury. The injury occurred during his club Schalke 04’s Bundesliga match against Augsburg, with Matip experiencing severe pain in the 26th minute.
According to reports from Camfoot, a Cameroonian football site, the medical staff in Gelsenkirchen confirmed the severity of the injury. Matip is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks, ruling him out for the upcoming matches. Coach Denis Lavagne will have to make do without the 21-year-old player, who has been making a mark in the Bundesliga, having recently been chosen over German international Benedikt Höwedes for a starting position.
While Matip’s absence is a setback for the Indomitable Lions, there is hope for his return during the return match scheduled in Yaoundé on October 14, as part of the qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa 2013. The young player’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, considering his growing influence in the Bundesliga.
