Cameroon Soccer Team Cashes In

The Indomitable Lions are becoming wealthy soccer players, thanks to their exploits at the World Cup.

Cameroon has been the sensation of the first round of the world championships, winning Group B over defending champion Argentina and strengthening the claim that Africa deserves more than two spots in the 24-team field. The Cameroonian players aren’t collecting only glory.

By advancing to the second round, each player has earned 13 million f.c.f.a., a currency used in French-speaking Africa that is stabilized by the French franc. That comes to about $46,180.

“For that money, we can build a small house back in Cameroon, or live comfortably for a couple of years there,” defender Jules Onana said.

Many of the Cameroonians are hoping to sign contracts with teams in Europe after their strong showing in the World Cup, which they entered with odds as long as 500-1 to win. Those contracts might dwarf what they’ve already gotten and payments that might lie ahead in the tournament if they continue winning. Onana said each player, including substitutes, was promised about $10,700 for each victory and $3,500 for each tie.

“We have never discussed which bonuses would be given to us if we win the championships. Maybe this was because we never thought we could win the title,” said team captain Stephen Tataw, who plays for F. C. Tonnere in Cameroon.

The average salary in Cameroon is about $6,400 a year.