Le Roy puts Cameroon past behind him as Congo seek Brazzaville breakthrough

Claude Le Roy will attempt to derail Cameroon’s start to the CAN 2027 qualifying campaign when Congo host the Indomitable Lions in Brazzaville on Tuesday.

Congo began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat by Namibia, leaving the Red Devils under immediate pressure before a derby against a Cameroon side that opened with a 3-1 victory over Comoros.

Le Roy accepts the difference in status between the two teams, but insists his long association with Cameroon will have no bearing once the match begins. The 78-year-old Frenchman is determined to help Congo produce a surprise result against the country that occupies such an important place in his career.

He highlighted the threat posed by Bryan Mbeumo, Danny Namaso and Christian Kofane, although Kofane is unavailable for the match. Cameroon have already demonstrated their attacking strength against Comoros, with Mbeumo and Namaso both among the scorers.

The fixture carries particular significance for Le Roy, who first took charge of Cameroon in 1985. He guided the Indomitable Lions to the final of the 1986 CAN, where they lost to Egypt on penalties.

Cameroon responded two years later by winning the 1988 CAN against Nigeria, with Le Roy in charge. He later returned to lead the team at the 1998 World Cup, where a 17-year-old Samuel Eto’o made his international breakthrough.

Le Roy’s second spell with Congo is not driven by nostalgia. He previously managed the Red Devils when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2015 CAN, and his current task is to take the country back to the finals after more than a decade away.

The opening loss to Namibia has made that challenge more difficult. A second successive defeat, particularly at home, would leave Congo in a vulnerable position in the qualifying campaign.

Cameroon manager David Pagou is fully aware of Le Roy’s standing in the country’s football history. Before the reunion, he described his opposite number as a “father”.

The mutual respect remains, but it will not influence the contest after kick-off. Le Roy knows the Cameroon football environment, its demands and the pressure surrounding the Indomitable Lions better than most opposing coaches.

Almost 40 years after helping Cameroon win the CAN, the man known as the “White Wizard” now hopes to frustrate them. For Congo, victory would provide a crucial response to their opening defeat and finally give their qualification campaign momentum.