Cameroon anticipates a victorious start to their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign as they face Mauritius in Group D on Friday. The Indomitable Lions have a perfect record in their four previous encounters with Mauritius, the last of which dates back to September 2011.
Qualifying for seven out of the last nine World Cups, Cameroon aims to secure a spot in the expanded 48-team tournament in North America. Africa’s nine group winners will automatically qualify, with the four best runners-up competing for an intercontinental playoff spot.
As top seeds in Group D, Cameroon eyes a first-place finish, considering the relatively favorable draw alongside Cape Verde, Angola, Libya, Eswatini, and Mauritius. The five-time Africa Cup of Nations winners seek redemption after a recent slump, including defeats in friendlies against Russia and Senegal.
Rigobert Song’s team aims to bounce back on home turf against Mauritius in Douala before facing Libya next week. In contrast, Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, has never qualified for a World Cup. Despite their challenges, they displayed capability with a recent 1-0 win against Angola.
With a current world ranking of 177th, Mauritius, the bottom seeds in Group D, relies on players primarily competing at the local level. Their squad, including top scorer Ashley Nazira, aims to make a competitive showing against other sides in the group.
Cameroon will miss Vincent Aboubakar due to injury, providing an opportunity for Karl Toko Ekambi in the attack. Clinton N’Jie and Bryan Mbeumo are likely to flank Ekambi. Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is expected to start.
Mauritius looks to key player Ashley Nazira and primarily local-based talent for their lineup, with Adel Langue of Red Star in France being an exception.
