It Was What It Was
Cameroon at Italia ‘90: Roger Milla and the Legend of the Indomitable Lions - Part One
Published: 1 April 2025 at 05:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
This week on It Was What It Was, Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson look back at one of the most iconic footballing stories of all time: Cameroon’s 1990 World Cup.
Jonathan and Rob look at the chaotic preparations behind Cameroon's campaign, discussing last-minute squad upheaval, internal conflicts between teammates, and the unexpected recall of a man who would become a legend: Roger Milla.
In the build up to the tournament's opening game against defending champions Argentina, there were turbulent training camps, political interferences, and a complete lack of confidence in the squad. That would all change in the summer to come...
Join us on Friday for Part Two.
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00:00 Pre-Game Nerves and Disorganization
01:02 Introduction to the 1990 Cameroon Team
01:25 Historical Context of African Teams in the World Cup
02:26 The Dramatic Campaign of Cameroon 1990
04:40 The Goalkeeper Dilemma
07:25 African Football's Struggles and Triumphs
14:37 Colonial Impact on African Football
17:44 Cameroon's Chaotic Road to the World Cup
24:09 African Players in European Football
24:58 Cameroon's Discontent in the 1990s
26:02 The Build-Up to the 1990 World Cup
31:43 Roger Milla's Unexpected Return
40:07 Goalkeeper Rivalries and Team Dynamics
43:33 Pre-Match Chaos and Last-Minute Changes
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