Cameroon will arrive in Cairo as the only nation to have participated previously in IFAF competition having made history when representing Africa at the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland.

The fortunes of the Indomitable Lions are now guided by interim head coach Bavuong Souphanthavong, who is also the Director of Sport for the Marseille Blue Stars in France where he oversees both tackle and flag football programs from youth to senior levels. On the coaching front, Souphanthavong leads the Blue Stars’ U15 flag team and the senior tackle football team, which competes in the French first division.

“I discovered football while visiting my family in the United States,” explains coach Souphanthavong. “When I returned to France to my hometown of Nimes, I joined a local club and I’ve been involved with the game ever since.”

Drawing their squad from those with Cameroonian ancestry in France and Belgium, along with Cameroon-based players, the Indomitable Lions held an open tryout in Marseille to evaluate athletes. A second training camp featured players selected for the final roster and their progress was evaluated during a preparation game against a team in France.

“The biggest challenge we have faced has been building chemistry,” explains coach Souphanthavong. “We’ve had two training camps before the IFAF Africa flag tournament, so creating team cohesion in such a short time is not easy.

‘But I believe we have talented athletes across the field. Our offense is very explosive, so we’ll rely on our defense to create stops and apply pressure, because we have the potential to score on every drive.”

If the opposition in Cairo is able to disrupt those tactics, Souphanthavong has an alternative approach in reserve.

“My coaching philosophy is all about adaptability,” he says. “If we have a high-powered offense, we’ll lean into that. If our strength lies in a dominant defense, we’ll adjust our game plan accordingly. The goal is always to find the best way to win.

“All the national teams playing at the tournament are new and will be playing together for the first time, so adaptability to their style of play will be key during the tournament.”

The advantage Cameroon possesses is that they are the only nation that can draw on the experience of having competed in an IFAF international competition, their experience in Finland coming less than a year ago.