Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba has credited coach David Pagou for instilling a positive mindset in the team, saying, “Our coach always tells us to be happy, take pleasure and be joyful on the pitch because we are a young team.”
Baleba’s comments came after Cameroon’s 2-1 win over South Africa in the AFCON last 16.
The 21-year-old Brighton player was instrumental in the victory, earning the Man of the Match award.
He dedicated the honor to his mother, saying, “Ce trophée, je le dédie à ma maman car elle est toujours là pour moi dans mon cœur” (“This trophy, I dedicate it to my mom because she’s always there for me in my heart”).
Baleba also revealed that the team’s disappointment at missing the World Cup has fueled their AFCON campaign.
“The sadness we had for not going to the World Cup, we put it in this AFCON!” he said, highlighting the team’s determination to succeed.
