Football: Could the Lions put an end to this Senegalese smugness

Senegal vs Cameroon AFCN Qualifier in Dakar

I have had it. Since Senegal manage to earn a die-minute 1-0 victory over Cameroon back in March, every Senegalese I come across put on an air of smugness whenever they find out that I am Cameroonian, like they won the World Cup or something. 

The other day, it was a traffic cup. While doing a routine check I handed over my drivers licence, he had one look and smirked. 

"Tu est Camerounais,?" he asked. "Oui," I replied. 

"Oh je suis désolé pour vous," he said, handing back my licence and then called over a colleague.

"Eh! Diop, hahahah, il est Camerounais, un supporteur des Lions Indomptables," and they both continue to laugh as I drove off.

The same scenario has played out countless of times since the March victory.

The nerve!

You see, to Senegalese fans, beating Cameroon was like winning the World Cup and at the same time delivering them from a long-suffering they have endured for nearly 20 years.

Cameroon has been very mean to Senegal when it comes to football. Back in the 90s when Senegal had good crop of talents, they hosted the African Cup of Nations in 1992, hoping to win it or at at least make it to the semis or the final. Only one team stood in their way, those terrifying Cameroonians.

Before the quarter-final game, some Senegalese players such as legend Jules Bocande, went about boasting that they'll trash Cameroon, that the Cameroonian squad was made up of old players living in past glories and were still in the dream of their epic exploit at the World Cup in Italy, two years before.

Now for those who know the Cameroonian team of the late 80s, 90s and early 2000, that kind of trash-talking enrages the Lions. Go ask the Moroccans, Ivorians, Nigerians and Malians. On the day of the quarter-finale game in front of a packed home crowd against them, the Cameroonians did what they do best in such circumstances; break the heart of a whole nation with a one-nil win.  

The Senegalese were inconsolable. From Bocande bawling on the pitch, to the agonising fans, threatening to throw themselves from the rafters of the stadium.   

Then in 2002, a new generation of Senegalese talents emerged. The team that included El Hadji Diouf, Khalilou Fadiga, Papa Bouba Diop, Ferdinand Coly etc, went to do great things at the World Cup that year, beating France and going on to play the World Cup quarter-final. But before that, they had an old score to settle, they had to beat Cameroon in the African cup of nations that year. 

After disposing the host nation Mali, in display of football master-class in front of a hostile home crowd, Cameroon met Senegal in the final. The talented Senegalese did everything they could but Cameroon held its ground and the final was decided on penalties. Of course Senegal went home heartbroken again. 

So when they finally beat their "bête noire" in March, it is understandable that they should be happy. But I think rubbing it on every opportunity they get on every Cameroonian, and being smug all the time, I think they are asking for it again. We have done it before and we'll start all over just to make it clear that Cameroon is the Indomitable Lion. On this June 4 day in Yaounde, could the Lions please put an end to this smugness.

Dakar scenes

Baobab tree on Île de Gorée - Pic BF

Baobab alley, Artists resting - Île de Gorée

Cliff on Île de Gorée 

Grande Mosque on Ouakam beach

Beautiful sunset off Ouakam beach

My local beach - Ngor. Exactly 10mins from home 

I found these walls on Ngor island facinating

Doorway to the sea - Ngor island

Unfortunately no waste disposal plan - Ngor island

Wade's African Renaissance monument

We are back!

Transport to Ngor Island - Photo by Bate Felix

Finally. I've decided to start blogging again. I moved to Dakar, Senegal from Brussels at the end of February to start my new assignment as Reuters Correspondent for West & Central Africa.

The Reuters team of four Dakar-based text correspondents plus stringers in all the countries, cover news stories ranging from politics and economics to general news stories in over two dozen countries from Senegal to the DRC, excluding Nigeria.

There is a lot going on in the region in which I'm very passionate about. Some of the funny, sad crazy or inspirational stories and encounters I'll come across may not make it to the Reuters wire, so I'll be sharing them with you right here. Stay tuned.!