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Bulls Abroad: Oyongo rides the pine for Cameroon

The Red Bulls' live-wire left winger (or full back - he's versatile) didn't crack the starting lineup for his country's latest Africa Cup of Nations qualifier...

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Ambroise Oyongo's burgeoning international career has hit a speed bump in the shape of Henri Bedimo, a veteran defender who has spent all his time as a pro playing for French clubs.

Bedimo was not available for Cameroon's last round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and one of the questions for the team's October matches was whether the Indomitable Lions would stick with Oyongo (who started both preceding qualifiers for his country) or make room for the more senior player.

Experience would appear to have won the initial battle.

The Indomitable Lions' head coach, Volker Finke, started Bedimo over Oyongo for the October 11 match against Sierra Leone in Douala. The match ended 0-0; Oyongo played no part.

Cameroon will play the same opponent in the same stadium on October 15.

At the halfway point of the final qualifying round for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (still scheduled for January, after host nation Morocco had a request to postpone rejected by the African Football Confederation this week), the Indomitable Lions are top of Group D by one point over Ivory Coast.

The top two teams in each group are guaranteed a place in next year's tournament.