Djoum goes for glory in African final
HEARTS midfielder Arnaud Djoum only needs to glance at his phone to realise the enormity of his achievements with Cameroon as he prepares to face Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
The Indomitable Lions have reached the final for the first time since 2008, and the photos and videos sent by Djoum’s family documenting the scenes in his home city of Yaounde tell the tale of a country gripped by football fever.
Without the superstar names of yesteryear – Samuel Eto’o, Rigobert Song, Geremi are a distant memory – Cameroon are a mere 90 minutes away from winning the trophy for the fifth time.
And, in a rare success story for Scotland on the world stage, a representative of the SPFL has been at the heart of it, with Djoum lapping up every moment of a career-defining competition.
“My grandparents and uncles are in Cameroon and they have been showing me what the atmosphere is like and how people are reacting. The pictures and the videos are just amazing,” Djoum said.
“It is crazy – they are dancing on the streets and celebrating. I was told there was a three-day party after we reached the final. All the players hear about that and it makes us very proud and more determined to succeed. We want to win this for the people of Cameroon.
“What will it be like if we win the trophy? I think it will be like nothing I have ever experienced. But that is the plan – to win this trophy and take it back to enjoy the celebrations with all of the fans.”
While Djoum was raised in Belgium and represented them at youth level, he was born in Yaounde and grew up watching Cameroon dominate the continent, winning this tournament in 2000 and 2002.
“I still remember those finals. I was a little boy and of course you dream of doing what Eto’o and those stars did,” Djoum continued. “But to actually be here is hard to believe. Now this team want to create some history.”
After impressing against Senegal and Ghana, Djoum looks certain to start tonight’s final at the Stade d’Angondjé in Libreville. It is an astonishing achievement for a player who was without a club before Robbie Neilson took him to Hearts 18 months ago.
“I will always appreciate Robbie bringing me to a club like Hearts and giving me the opportunity to play and enjoy my football,” Djoum added. “Hearts are a special club and have given me a lot – without them I would not have the chance to play for my country on this stage.”