• Cameroon recovered from two goals down for 3-3 Group G draw with Serbia

• Skipper Vincent Aboubakar came on to spark fightback with first World Cup goal

• Rigobert Song's team poised for must-win Brazil encounter on Friday

Cameroon delivered a memorable performance against Serbia on Monday, claiming a point in one of the most exciting matches of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ And while the Serbians’ collective strength was a major feature of the high-scoring draw, it would be unwise to overlook the crucial impact of Cameroon substitute and captain Vincent Aboubakar, who inspired an unlikely comeback when the three points appeared destined for the European side. It was in the 55th minute, just moments after Aleksandar Mitrovic tapped home to put Serbia 3-1 ahead, when Rigobert Song decided to introduce the 30-year-old, whose senior international debut came way back in May 2010. It proved a judicious choice, as eight minutes later the talismanic striker had the crowd at Al Janoub Stadium on their feet after beating the offside trap and scooping an adroit lob over goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

Aboubakar wasn’t finished there, not by a long shot. Leading from the front, the Al-Nassr player burst down the right after 66 minutes to lay the ball on a plate for Eric Choupo-Moting, who slotted in an unforeseen equaliser. Although the Cameroonians were unable to find a winner to complete the turnaround, they were all smiles at the final whistle, and clearly grateful to Aboubakar for his efforts. “He’s our captain and our leader – whether he’s on the pitch or on the bench, he always sets a good example to the rest of the squad,” said Hanover midfielder Gael Ondoua.

Having struggled physically since the beginning of the World Cup and attracted criticism in the press back home for his fitness levels, Aboubakar played only 16 minutes of the opening 1-0 defeat by Switzerland, before his earlier introduction on Monday. “Pairing him with Choupo-Moting at that point [when Song sent on Aboubakar against Serbia] was just what we needed,” explained Cameroon coach Song.

Aboubakar was a member of Cameroon’s squads for South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 and had featured in five World Cup matches without finding the net prior to his pivotal involvement against Serbia. “When the coach gave me the nod, I knew I had to make some deep runs,” explained Aboubakar. “I watched the Morocco game yesterday [2-0 win over Belgium], and they played with so much intensity. I told my team-mates we had to show more desire, because that’s how you win. We found that desire in the end, but we only got a draw. We need to keep that mindset for the next match.” And just how did Aboubakar manage to deliver those exceptional 11 minutes immediately after entering the field, to potentially alter Cameroon’s World Cup destiny? “I train with him every day and he does some amazing things,” continued Ondoua. “He’s a world-class player; he proved again today that he’s the leader of this team.”

Goalkeeper Devis Epassy added: “He’s a great player with really good technique and he gives you goals and assists, like the ball he gave to Choupo today.” Cameroon fans can certainly feel grateful for Aboubakar, because without his contribution, their team was on course to equal Mexico’s unenviable record of nine consecutive World Cup defeats. In addition, Aboubakar and his team-mates succeeded in scoring three times in a single World Cup match, something even the great sides spearheaded by Roger Milla and Samuel Eto'o couldn’t manage. Brazil, the Africans' third and final group-stage opponents, have been warned ahead of Friday’s clash: Aboubakar, the Cameroonian lion, is on the loose and increasingly difficult to tame.

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