By Martin Etonge BBC Sport, Yaounde

Patrick Mboma is not in Cameroon's provisional squad for the Nations Cup

Cameroon have now officially named a provisional squad of 26 players ahead of this month's Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.

The list however dos not include Japanese-based Patrick Mboma, who was recalled for a recent friendly against Japan.

There has been confusion over Mboma's international future with head coach Winifred Schafer first ruling him out and then surprising everyone by recalling him at the last minute for the Japan match.

Other big names missing from the list are Pierre Wome Nlend and goalkeeper Alioum Boukar, as well as the retired duo of Lauren Etame Mayer and Raymond Kalla.

There are three new names in Schafer's provisional squad - Thierry Gathuessi of French side Montpellier and the home-based goalkeeping duo of Mathurin Kameni of Coton Sport Garoua and Amour Patrick Tignyemb of Tonnerre Yaounde.

Marcus Mokake is the only other home based player in the squad.

The Indomitable Lions are due to assemble in Yaounde by 10 January, before heading to their training camp in Malaga, Spain, on 12 January. They will then leave for Tunisia ten days later.

Cameroon begin the defence of their continental title on 25 January against Algeria in Sousse, and will then play Egypt and Zimbabwe in their remaining Group C games.

Provisional Squad:

Goalkeepers:
Idriss Kameni (Le Havre, France), Mathurin Kameni (Coton Sport Garoua), Amour Patrick Tignyemb (Tonerre Yaounde)

Defenders:
Rigobert Song (Lens, France), Jean-Noel Perrier Doumbe (AJ Auxerre, France), Pierre Njanka Beaka (Sedan, France), Thierry Gathuessi (Montpellier, France), Bill Tchato (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Lucien Mettomo (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Timothee Atouba (FC Basel, Switzerland), Daniel Ngom Kome (Numancia, Spain), Falemi Nana (Steau Bucharest, Romania)

Midfielders:
Modeste Mbami (PSG, France), Jean Makoun (Lille, France), Valery Mezague (Montpellier, France), Geremi Njitap (Chelsea, England), Eric Djemba Djemba (Manchester United, England), Salomon Olembe (Leeds United, England), Achille Webo (Ossasuna, Spain), Marcus Mokake (Canon Yaounde)