Cameroon held 0-0 by Angola, World Cup hopes rest on play-offs | OneFootball

Frank Zambo Anguissa's solidity wasn't enough to propel Cameroon directly to the 2026 World Cup. The "Indomitable Lions" had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Angola, leaving them in second place in the group and condemning them to the qualification playoffs.

Napoli, Anguissa in search of the World Cup: the passage will be played in the playoffs

A sporting disappointment that risks having repercussions at Napoli as well, because the decisive African matches will be played between November 10 and 18, 2025, during the last break of the year and at a key period in the Azzurri's season. While Cape Verde celebrates a historic qualification – the first in its history – thanks to their victory over Eswatini, Cameroon must once again postpone the dream of direct passage. And to think that Marc Brys' team had not underperformed: Anguissa played the entire match as a starter, confirming himself as the beacon of the midfield for balance and intensity, but the offensive maneuver was repeatedly stopped by the Angolan wall.

Now Cameroon will have to play everything in the playoffs, a true roulette that will see the four best African runners-up face off in a mini-tournament with direct elimination – two semifinals and a single final – to secure the last ticket to the USA 2026. For Napoli, however, a considerable puzzle looms: in November, Antonio Conte's team will face a tight schedule, with matches against Como, Eintracht Frankfurt, and Bologna, and immediately after, they will have to do without one of their most important players. Anguissa will fly overseas to lead his national team, leaving a significant gap in the heart of the Azzurri's midfield.

And another appointment looms on the horizon: the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled between December 21 and January 18, which will deprive the Azzurri of Anguissa for several weeks. Two closely scheduled commitments that risk weighing on the Neapolitan midfield, where the Cameroonian remains an indispensable piece for rhythm, strength, and leadership.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.