 Tataw akabudirira zvikuru uye akakurumbira makwikwi enyika dzakawanda akabatanidzwa mu1990 FIFA World Cup, umo akatungamirira Cameroon sezvo vakava rudzi rwokutanga rweAfrica kusvika kumakwikwi ekupedzisira. Vakatanga mushandirapamwe wavo muBoka B nemutambo wekutanga wemakwikwi, vachipesana neArgentina, vaive varidzi vemakwikwi sevakundi muna 1986. South America ndiyo yaifanirwa kukunda mutambo uyu asi Cameroon yakawana kukunda kwakashamisa, ichikunda 1-0 kuburikidza nechinangwa chaFrançois Omam-Biyik. Vakakundawo mutambo wavo unotevera, vachikunda Romania 21 paStadio San Nicola muBari, Roger Milla achiwana zvibodzwa zviviri mukati memaminitsi gumi mushure mekupinda senzvimbo. Vakatambura kukundwa 4-0 neSoviet Union mumutambo wavo wekupedzisira weboka, asi kukunda kuviri kwaive kwakakwana kuti vakwanise kuenda kumutambo unotevera sevakundi veboka. Mumutambo wavo wechipiri vakatamba neColombia uye zvakare Milla akanga ari gamba. Mushure mekunge mutambo wapera pasina zvibodzwa munguva yakajairwa, Milla akarova zvakare kaviri nekukurumidza mukuwedzera nguva, uye kunyangwe paine chinangwa chakazotevera kubva kuRomania, Cameroon yakabata kuti inyore 21 kukunda. Mutambo wokupedzisira wokupedzisira neEngland wakanga uri unotyisa. England yakatanga kutungamira kuburikidza naDavid Platt asi Cameroon yakapindura muhafu yepiri nemigomo miviri mumaminitsi mana kuti itungamire 21. Chirango cheEngland chakatora mutambo kuenda kunguva yekuwedzera, umo Cameroon yakabvuma imwe nzvimbo-kick uye yakabviswa 32. 