behind qualifiers Ivory Coast in their table, Makoun was called up to the national squad to be part of the Cameroonian 2006 African Nations Cup team. He played an important role in a match against Togo, setting up a goal for Samuel Eto'o, in a 2–0 win. However, Makoun started and played the whole game, as he scored in the epic 11–12 penalty shootout quarter-final loss against Ivory Coast. Makoun was named by Otto Pfister in Cameroon's squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. Though he played three times in the tournament, Makoun was placed on the substitute bench for the other three matches, including the final, which Cameroon lost 1–0 against Egypt, having lost to them in the opening game of the tournament. Later in the year, he scored his first Cameroon goal, in a 5–0 win against Mauritius on 10 October 2008. A year later, Makoun added two more goals against Gabon and Togo. A month later, he later helped Cameroon qualify for the next year World Cup after beating Morocco 2–0. In May 2010, Makoun was named in Cameroon's 23 man squad for the World Cup. He made his World Cup debut, starting a match and played 75 minutes before substituted, as Cameroon lost 1–0 against Japan. Makoun participated in all of Cameroon's games in their disappointing 2010 FIFA World Cup. After Samuel Eto'o was suspended 15 games by the Cameroonian Football Federation, both Makoun and Benoît Angbwa issued an ultimatum to the federation, stating that they would not play for the national team unless his suspension was rescinded. Eventually, the ban was reduced to eight months in January 2012, meaning Eto'o would only miss four competitive matches. In October 2012, Makoun was called up to the national squad for the first time in over a year. He made his first appearance in two years for the national side, starting the whole game, in a 2–1 win against Cape Verde. Makoun then scored twice against Tunisia to seal a 4–1 victory in the return match of the CAF Third Qualification Round for 2014 FIFA World Cup on 18 November 2013. This ensured Cameroon qualification to the World Cup. It was announced on 21 May 2014 that Makoun was included in Cameroon's squad for the World Cup. Having appeared as an unused substitute in the first two matches in the Group Stage and witnessing the