The Last Crusade: Cameroon v Serbia Al Janoub Stadium, FIFA World Cup Qatar, 28 Nov 22

Cameroon v Serbia

FIFA World Cup 2022, Group G

Al Janoub Stadium

Al Wakrah, Qatar

28 Nov 22

There was no official programme for the WC but they did produce an excellent 129 page Fan Guide which included all of the information that a visiting fan would require.

I purchased Cat 2 tickets for this game during the 2nd FIFA ballot on 5 Apr 23. The cost was 600 QAR (approximately £136). Serbia had qualified as the unbeaten group winners of European Qualification Group A sending Portugal into the Play Offs. Cameroon had topped their Round 2 African Group D and beat Algeria over 2 legs to secure qualification. Serbia and Cameroon had only ever played once before in a friendly played at Stadion Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade on 5 Jun 2010. The result was was an entertaining 4:3 win in Serbia's favour

The Al Janoub Stadium is located in Al Wakrah which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas of Qatar. It has a 40,000 capacity and the stadium design leaves a great impression on the eye of the beholder. It brings to life Al Wakrah's fishing and pearl diving history where the flowing curves of the stadium are inspired by traditional dhow boats weaving through the currents of the Gulf and after the World cup circus leaves it will become a new home for sport and entertainment in southern Qatar

Cameroon 3 Serbia 3

Attendance: 39,789

This game is an absolute cracker. The big talking point before the match was Andre Onana's omission from the squad. The Cameroon GK was replaced by Devis Epassy who ended up having a great game in this 6 goal thriller. Aleksander Mitrovic only managed to beat him once. On 29 minutes Serbia went behind when Castelletto tapped in from point blank range. The Serbs came back strongly to score twice in 1st half stoppage time with goals from Pavlovic (guided header) and Milinkovic-Savic (strike from edge of the box). After the break the Serbs went 3:1 up courtesy of a brilliant team goal finished off by Mitrovic in the 53rd minute. Ten minutes later it got really interesting when Vincent Aboubakar broke the off side trap and raced through to scoop the ball over the keeper. Then 3 minutes later, in a very similar situation Aboubaker races through again and tees up Eric Maxim Chouo Moting for the equaliser. The game ends 3:3

2 days before the game we hired a car and headed off to explore Norther Qatar. First we stopped off at the fort at Al Zubarah and then headed off to see the archaeological site of Al Zubarah.

The archaeological site is very much a work in progress as archaeologists toil in the midday sun, excavating yet more artefacts from the abandoned town of Al Zubarah.

Looking out to the Persian Gulf and the bright lights of Manama in Bahrain

Next up is the Ain Mohammed Heritage Village and some more Arabian adventures

Sue has fulfilled one of her many life time ambitions by mounting her first Arabian

Sue being led off into the desert

Supper in the heritage village proved an acquired taste as we struggled with the Machboos and Harees dishes, but the biscuits were nice

On 27 Nov we drove due west on the Dhukan highway to the coast at Zekreet in our quest to find the East - West / West - East sculpture by Richard Serra. Unfortunately our vehicle wasn't suitable so we failed to get there💩

But we did see the amazing ruins of Zakreet fort before heading back East to Al Wakrah

On arrival at Al Wakrah we got some local food at Souq Al Wakrah. The mint and lime drink was suitably refreshing

The Mosque at Souq Al Wakrah

The shipwrecked dhow boats line the beach at Al Wakrah - time to hit the beach

Just as the sun begins to set the calvary arrive

Legs 11

Its matchday and a 1300 KO so we get up and make the short journey to the metro station at Umm Ghuwailina to hop on the red line to Al Wakrah. Opposite the metro is a giant size official poster of Qatar's FIFA WC

Walking to the stadium and atmosphere is building nicely

Cameroon fans, adding colour to the tournament

It is quite peculiar that so many Cameroon fans claim to be the undisputed 'super fan' of their country. It is almost like a challenge to be the most colourful

We were lucky to meet up with one of them. He is Billy from Peckham and travels everywhere with the Indominable Lions

Next up is Tina from Nottingham. I knew she was an expat living in England when I was greeted with "Aye up me duck"😂

The Al Janoub stadium resembles a dhow boat and is truly spectacular. It was my favourite of all of the stadiums, not just by appearance but by matchday experience too

Stadium plan

Stadium Number 5 of 8

Inside the concourse there is a bright and airy atmosphere, just a shame there was only Bud Zero on tap

This veteran Serbian soldier probably isn't that used to drinking water at a football match 😐

Nor is this RAF veteran so Bud Zero it is😀

Following our great holiday in the Republic of Serbia and the kind hospitality of Milena Popov from Novi Sad we are now officially Serbians👌

Serbian Sue is going for it 💃

Great view from Block 329 in the red zone

Let the games begin 💫

The build up to all of the world cup games are quite similar but still fabulous

The flags are out and the battle lines are drawn

The anthems help to build up the hysteria

In the green zone behind the goal had a mix of Cameroon and Serbian fans along with some neutrals

The Serbian anthem being belted out by thousands of passionate Serbs, prompting me to message Melina in Novi Sad. I sent her a video of the anthem and she was very grateful ✌