Lionesses camping in Auckland boosted by Estelle Johnson’s arrival.

The team’s camping has been boosted by the arrival of US-based defender, Estelle Johnson.

The North Carolina Courage FC player who jetted into Auckland over the weekend, trained for the first time with the rest of the players in camp Saturday February 11.

The 34-year-old has become a mainstay at the defence of the Indomitable Lionesses since playing her first match for Cameroon in 2019.

Before Johnson arrival in camp, forward Michaela Abam who also plays in the USA and France-based trio; Ngock Monique, Charlene Meyong and Meffometou Tcheno had joined the other home-based players who earlier travelled from Cameroon.

Gwladys Ewogo to replace Nina Ngueleu

France-based Nina Ngueleu who plays for Paris Saint Germain women’s team and who had been handed her first call up to the Indomitable Lionesses has been ruled of the inter-continental play-offs.

She will now be replaced by CSKA Moscow forward, Ewodo Ekogo Gwladys.

 “Due to the unavailability of Cameroonian striker who is a member of Paris Saint Germain in France, coach Gabriel Zabo has called up to replace Ewodo Ekogo Gwaldys to complete the squad” reads a note from the official media handles of the Indomitable Lionesses.

Some key players still expected in camp in New Zealand are team captain, Aboudi Onguene and striker Nchout Njoya Ajara.

The Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, had on Friday January 27 published a list of 23 players retained by the head coach of the Indomitable Lions to fly the flag of Cameroon in the last phase of this qualification tournament.

Among the 23 players, six of them play in the country’s women’s topflight, Guinness Super League.

The Lionesses will continue training in Auckland, New Zealand where they will acclamatise in readiness for the two crucial games.

Thailand, Portugal stand on Cameroon’s way

The Lionesses failed to secure an automatic spot for the Australia and New Zealand Women’s World Cup after finishing out of the top four nations in the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco.

Cameroon is expected to face Thailand on Saturday February 18, 2023 and possibly Portugal in the play-offs which will determine whether they compete in the global football tournament later this year.

In case of qualification during the play-offs, the Lionesses will compete at the Women’s World Cup for the third successive time after 2015 in Canada and 2019 in France.

A total 10 teams, drawn in three groups will compete in the play-offs, with just the top team of each group qualifying to join the other nations that had already secured a place for the 2023 Women’s World Cup.