This, straight from the Reuters wire ...
Cameroon's Daniel Ngom Kome and Albert Meyong Ze will miss the 2008 African Nations Cup after being suspended from international duty for six months for partying ahead of a qualifier.
Sports Minister Augustin Edjoa said in a statement dated Monday that the ban was for "indiscipline shown on the occasion of the final qualifying match" between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon on Sept. 9 in Malabo.
Cameroon, who had already qualified from Group Five, suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to outsiders Equatorial Guinea after Kome and Ze were both left out of the squad at the last minute.
Edjoa did not elaborate on the "indiscipline" but Cameroonian state television, which reflects the view of the government in the central African country, reported on Tuesday that the players had been out partying before the match.
"While in Malabo, the two players disobeyed the instructions of the interim coach and always went out at night," the TV station said. Jules Nyongha is managing the team while the Football Federation recruits a permanent coach.
"Even on the eve of the encounter they went to the night club and came back very late. That is why the coach did not line them up for the match and only presented 16 players," it said.
Cameroon lost their place as the top FIFA-ranked African side to Nigeria last month after losing 2-0 to Japan in an Aug. 22 friendly, provoking an outcry among devoted fans of the "Indomitable Lions".
The Nations Cup is being held in Ghana from Jan. 20 to Feb. 10 next year.
Yikes. That's not a good sign for Cameroon, is it?
What do we know of these players? Anyone have a scouting report on them?
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