Arsenal's Cameroonian defender Lauren has caused an upset by missing the World Cup training camp in Paris.

The Cameroon Football Federation says Lauren, who had agreed to return to international football last month, will not play Saturday's World Cup African zone qualifier with Benin.

Lauren has refused call-ups to play for Cameroon since the 2002 World Cup finals, citing incidents of poor management.

Cameroon's former coach Winfried Schaefer tried to lure him back several times last year.

The team's new coach Artur Jorge included Lauren in the side for the Benin qualifier believing he was returning to international football.

Cameroon is in danger of missing out on the World Cup finals for the first time since Rome 1990 when it reached the quarter-finals.

Cameroon trails leaders Ivory Coast by four points with four matches each remaining. Only the group winners qualify for next year's finals in Germany.

SourcE: CRI News