The FIFA World Cup is a celebration of football’s greatness, where the best teams collide in an attempt to perfect their legacies.
While the top teams receive most of the attention, the World Cup has a knack for rooting for the underdog, giving many teams a chance to shine.
In the 2026 World Cup, four debutants will join the competition, increasing the likelihood of a fairytale story that captures hearts and minds.
Those who feel overlooked can take comfort in knowing that many teams have been in their shoes before, including the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup.
Here’s an overview of the incredible story of Cameroon’s World Cup campaign.
Cameroon’s 1990 World Cup campaign
Are you ready for another edition of #WhatHappensNext? @CBF_Futebol wins a free kick against Zaire in the 1974 #WorldCup tweet to unlock full video!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) May 22, 2018
Cameroon gained independence from France in 1960 and became a member of FIFA three years later, qualifying for its first World Cup in just 20 years.
In the 1970s, African football was considered primitive, but the continent’s nations were determined to prove themselves, as seen in Zaire’s impressive performance at the 1974 World Cup.
Zaire’s efforts in West Germany only strengthened global perceptions, but Cameroon was on the rise in the 1980s, with Algeria and Morocco showing promise at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, respectively.
By the time the 1990 World Cup arrived, African football was on the rise, and Cameroon, winners of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1984 and 1988, were ready to make their mark.
Cameroon’s preparations for the tournament were far from ideal, but the team’s spirit and determination were evident, and they were ready to face the best teams in the world.
The World Cup was full of overachievers, and perhaps none more so than the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup.
Group B
Tournaments
Games played
Win
Draw
Loss
Goals scored
1
3
0
3
0
1
Inheritance
#OnThisDay in 1990, Roger Milla made his pitch the dance floor. #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 23, 2024
Most of Cameroon’s squad played at home or in France’s lower leagues, but goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell was withdrawn from the starting lineup hours before the tournament opener against Argentina for criticizing the team’s preparations.
The Indomitable Lions were more talented than anyone gave them credit for, but most expected them to succumb to a blow when they faced the holders at the San Siro.
But there was no Milan injury, and Cameroon pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the World Cup, with François Omam-Biyik’s header giving them a stunning lead they would refuse to relinquish.
To celebrate #2YearsToGo, let’s look back at some #WorldCup openers over the years First of all? Francois Omam-Biyik’s incredible header that started the party in Italy 1990 as Cameroon shocked Argentina
Bell’s replacement between the posts, Thomas N’Kono, watched relatively untested, but Romania surely put him to work in their second group game, with the 33-year-old Espanyol shot-stopper being outstanding against the eastern Europeans.
Nepomnyashchy was already thinking about the Round of 16 as the Soviet Union secured an emphatic 4-0 win on Day 3.
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 21, 2020
Pos.
Nation
The elimination stages
played
Won
Drawn
Lost
puncture
1.
Cameroon
3
2
1
4
0
2.
Romania
3
1
1
1
3
3.
Argentine
3
1
1
1
3
4.
soviet union
3
1
2
2
0
England prepare for a major quarter-final in Italy at #EURO2020
#OnThisDay in 1990, they played another major quarter-final in Italy at the #WorldCup. Minutes away from defeat, Paul Gascoigne and @GaryLineker combined to secure a thrilling 3-2 win over Cameroon
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Colombia certainly did not enter Italy ’90 with the expectations they would boast in the United States four years later. They sneaked out of a tough group that also included eventual winners West Germany and an excellent Yugoslavia side and were led on the field by Milla’s former Montpellier team-mate Carlos Valderrama.
Columbia’s number 10 could only watch as Milla stole the show once again. Continuing to make the difference off the bench, the 38-year-old struck twice in extra time to propel the Indomitable Lions into the quarters.
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2021
England were in the midst of their own seismic trip to Italy and were heavy favorites to progress at Cameroon’s expense, despite a rather indifferent start to the tournament.
And, in the words of defender Terry Butcher, England were ‘so lucky’ to escape Napoli as winners. Cameroon were the superior outfit, dazzling the Three Lions with their fluidity in possession, especially once Milla entered the fray in the second half.
It was the end of a Cameroonian fairytale that captivated neutrals and helped change ideas about Africa’s footballing prowess at a time when the world was changing drastically.
Morocco surpassed Cameroon by one result in 2022.
Commentator Peter Drury famously stated that Siphiwe Tshabalala’s stunning opening goal to kick off the 2010 World Cup was not just a goal for South Africa, but a ‘goal for all of Africa’.
Cameroon’s World Cup record before Italy ’90
Similarly, Cameroon’s efforts at Italia ’90 went beyond national pride. As another great Cameroonian, Samuel Eto’o, said: ‘Milla set fire to an entire continent. It is a fire that still burns today.’
Milla and the Indomitable Lions made a path for their neighbors to follow. In 1994, Nigeria’s ‘golden generation’ impressed in the USA, Senegal were stunning quarters in 2002, as was Ghana in 2010.
Morocco became Africa’s first semi-finalist at the 2022 World Cup, beating Belgium, Spain and Portugal along the way.
Cameroon’s achievement was thus usurped, but they remain pioneers of African football on the biggest stage, especially when you consider how ill-prepared they appeared ahead of the 1990 tournament.
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