Cameroon have long been the epitome of African progress.

There was the march to the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals, still not bettered by an African nation, via victory over holders Argentina and outclassing England for an hour. And the equally-impressive unbeaten run in 1982, where they drew with eventual winners Italy and would have gone through…at Italy’s expense…but for a harshly disallowed Milla goal against Peru.

Cameroon haven’t quite exuded the same glamour since, their displays more typical of the two players they had sent off against Argentina than any dances round defences or corner flags by the talismanic Milla.

Star players still pervade the squad, notably striker Samuel Eto’o, now at Inter after a trophy-laden spell at all-conquering Barcelona, scoring the first goal in 2009’s 2-0 Champions League final win over Manchester United.

Eto’o is the tournament’s all-time top goalscorer with 16, and Carlos Kameni is widely-considered the best goalkeeper in Angola, although some would argue that as being damned by faint praise.

Things aren’t over-shabby in between, either. French manager Paul Le Guen could afford to leave out Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong, although the defence will be weakened by injury to fellow-Spur Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Alex Song is Arsenal’s defensive midfield. Andre Bikey is showing a hitherto-unknown versatility in Burnley’s midfield. And the squad is a neat balance between youth and experience, seven ACN debutants alongside Rigobert Song, at a record-breaking eighth tournament.

They should walk their group – they did the double over Gabon in qualifying, and Zambia and Tunisia are firmly in the ‘unfancied’ column. Whether a fifth African Nations Cup title is on might depend on their discipline, which they lost spectacularly in the 2008 final, Andre Bikey’s sending-off quickly becoming a YouTube favourite. A football world eagerly awaits.