Pierre Wome Nlend first moved into the big time when he clinched gold for Cameroon at the Sydney Olympics with the final kick of a penalty shootout.

But four years earlier he had already impressed when he became the youngest ever player in the African Nations Cup.

Still only 23, he is approaching his 50th cap for the Cameroon national side and is an established figure on the left side of defence.

At times, his attacking flair needs restraining but his pace down the left ought to trouble the likes of Germany, Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Ireland - Cameroon's group opponents in Japan.