Let’s call it a coming out party for Yerry Mina.
The 22-year old emerging Colombian star, who plays as a center back for Palmeiras in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, scored two goals on Tuesday in Colombia’s route of Cameroon 4-0. Mina returned to the lineup after being benched in favor of Sánchez in the team’s prior friendly against Spain.
Colombian star James Rodriguez, who seems poised to move on from Real Madrid during the summer transfer window, opened up scoring in the 16th minute and Jose Izquierdo scored the final goal in the 85th minute, all but ending any hopes that Cameroon would remain competitive in the match.
The Colombian national team currently ranks 5th in the world in the FIFA Rankings. and currently ranks in second place at the South American qualifying rounds with 24 points, just a head behind Uruguay and Chile, who each have 23. The top four in the table will receive an automatic bid to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while the fifth placed team heads to a playoff.
With their two friendly matches behind them and on the verge of qualification, Colombia will now get a prolonged rest during the summer. Their next match is currently scheduled against Venezuela on August 31st.
