Cameroon are officially the most successful African national team in the World being the first to reach the quarter finals in the World Cup in 1990. Cameroon have won four African Cup of Nations as well as a gold medal in the 2000 summer olympics. Cameroon have reached the World Cup five times.

Cameroon came agonizingly close to qualifying for the 2006 World Cup. Their main rivals were Côte d'Ivoire who they beat 3 - 2 away from home in a crucial match towards the end of the group stage. In their last match a win at home to Egypt would of been enough. They drew the match 1 - 1.