2023 AFCON Qualifiers : Song Shortlists 34 Lions

The Cameroon’s Senior National Football Team’s Head Coach, Rigobert Song’s scout for young and agile talents abroad is evidently beginning to bear fruits. This is seen in his provisional list of 34 players made public on Friday March 3, 2023 ahead of the third and fourth days of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers against Namibia. The list, comprising of four goalkeepers, 11 defenders, nine midfielders and ten attackers has seen some of the regulars maintaining their places, others absent while few come-backs and new names have popped up. Looking at the 2022 World Cup squad, some eight players were left out in the provisional list which tells of the Coach’s determination to give pride of place to performance.
In the goalkeeping compartment, worth noting is the come-back of Simon Omossola and the new face, Marcelin Mbahbi, who plays for newly promoted Elite One side, Gazelle of Garoua. The 2022 African Nations Championship star is at his first pre-selection with the senior national team. Andre Onana is not part of the compartment after having recently called time to his international career. 
As for the defence, the rookies include; 21-year-old Flavien Boyomo who plays for Spanish side Albacete and 23-year-old Malcom Bokele Mputu who plies his trade for FC Girondins of Bordeaux. Former U20 Lion and son of Indomitable Lions Bill Tchato, Enzo Tchato, has been pre-selected for a second time.  Experienced Nicolas Nkoulou has been shortlisted and Harold Moukoudi returns after a while. Regulars: Fai Collins, Nohou Tolo, Jean Charles Castelletto keep their places.
In the midfield, the National Team Lead Trainer has invited nine players whom he believes can serve as basis for his final selection. Top of the new faces is Benjamin Elliot Njongoue who at the time of this report had featured in 15 league games with Chelsea’s U-21’s this season.  19-year-old Carlos Baleba who has been waxing strong in French top tier side, Lille this season is another fresh blood in this field of play. Former Toulouse midfielder, Steve Mvoue comes back to the fray after a while with hopes of making it to the final list.  André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Kunde Malong, Olivier Ntcham are some of the regulars in this park. 
In the forward role, Indomitable Lions’ captain, Vincent Aboubakar is leading the park. Super goal scorer Choupo-Moting was equally included just like Toko Ekambi who is on loan to Rennes from Lyon. Stephane Bahoken makes his come-back in the provisional squad. A host of others make up this delicate park. The absence of Jean-Pierre Nsame who has been in fine form of recent has got tongues wagging.

Full list of pre-selected players
Goalkeepers
1-    Epassy Mbocka Devis (AL Abha Club)
2-    Ngapandouetnbu Simon (Olympique de Marseille)
3-     Omossola Medjo Simon Loti (FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo)
4-    Mbahbi Marcelin Bouyane (Gazelle de Garoua)
Defenders
5-    Fai Collins Ngoran (Al-Tai Club)
6-    Yongwa Ngameni Darlin (FC Lorient)
7-    En...