20100613
allafrica

A run of seven matches without a win has promoted the prospect of radical change from Cameroon for Monday's World Cup tie against Japan in Bloemfontein, but the turmoil in the Indomitable Lions camp is replicated in that of their opponents.

Therefore Paul Le Guen's side start as favourites for the match at the Free State Stadium, which marks an African record sixth World Cup appearance for the Indomitable Lions.

Cameroon coach Le Guen proved a breath of fresh air for the team when he first took over last year but since the African Nations Cup finals in January his magic seems to have worn off.

This means he has gone for the possibilities offered by another shock selection, just as he did when he first took over and sacked captain Rigobert Song.

Now cousin Alexandre Song and goalkeeper Idriss Carlos Kameni will be left out of the team for the match against the Japanese, Le Guen announced on the eve of the match.

Whether the radical change will provide the necessary injection of motivation remains to be seen, but Le Guen has already a well-deserved reputation for a maverick approach.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada has spent the bulk of the build-up to the tournament in South Africa juggling his squad and switching formations, leaving his players and the media equally baffled. Yet even after all his tinkering, the bespectacled 53-year-old coach still appears no closer to finding the right blend of defensive nous and attacking bite ahead.

While Cameroon have drawn four and lost three of their last seven games, Japan have suffered four defeats in succession to Serbia, South Korea, England and Cote d'Ivoire, with just one goal scored before playing out a 0-0 draw in a hastily-arranged training match against Zimbabwe at their eastern Cape base last Thursday.