Internal conflicts have rocked the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), led by legend Samuel Eto’o, and the Sports Ministry over the match venue and hotel arrangements ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Cameroon is expected to play their match against Namibia in group J on Saturday, September 7, 2024.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars, in the same group as Cameroon, will be playing against Zimbabwe on Friday, September 6, 2024.
Samuel Eto’o and the current Sports Minister, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, have been at odds over control and management of the national team for over a year now.
Wrangles Between FECAFOOT and Sports Ministry
The situation escalated in April this year when the Minister appointed Marc Brys as the new national head coach without the FA’s approval.
Despite initial resistance, the FA eventually allowed the Belgian coach to take charge, and he has since overseen two matches against Angola and Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
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This decision reflects a 2015 agreement between the government and the Cameroon FA, stating that the national team’s technical staff must be recruited through a contract signed by the country’s president, based on the Sports Minister’s advice. The FA is now seeking to amend this agreement.
The latest dispute concerns logistical arrangements for the qualification match against Namibia on Saturday.
The FA had booked La Falaise Hotel in Douala for the team, while the government reserved the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé. The players decided to stay at the government-booked hotel after the confusion.
FA officials who had gathered at the airport to welcome players arriving from Europe and other parts of the world were prevented from entering the arrival deck. The government-organized entourage swiftly whisked the players out of the airport, leaving the Cameroon FA representatives both shocked and frustrated.
Another contentious issue is the venue for the Cameroon versus Namibia match. The FA wants the match to be held at the Japoma Sports Complex in Douala. However, the government insists that the match must be played in Yaounde due to technical reasons.
FECAFOOT announced in a statement on Tuesday, September 3, that the match against Namibia had been rescheduled to Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua by the Confederation of African Football, following consultations between the Cameroonian and Namibian federations.
Cameroon Gives Directives After Disruptions
They added that this decision was made in accordance with the competition’s regulations due to the unavailability of the Main Japoma Stadium, which was affected by rainfall, as declared by ONIES
“The reservations expressed by ONIES regarding this stadium, were not only tabled late but after being validated by the same body in a previous note. Thus, making it impossible for the said schedule to be reviewed by CAF, as the only authorized body to do so,” FECAFOOT said.
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FECAFOOT stated that it had taken all necessary measures to transport the players from their respective clubs to the venue in Douala, ensuring their accommodation and stay in the city before their departure for Garoua.
“People with malicious intentions have taken advantage of the resources of the State to put on a disgraceful show for the whole world, tarnishing the image of our country and exposing the players to the sanctions provided for in the Players’ Statutes and Transfer Regulations,” the statement reads further.
At the same time, it was directed that the 24 players duly summoned by the National Selection Coach were expected to arrive no later than 8 a.m. on September 4, 2024, at the Hôtel la Falaise Bonanjo in Douala.
“Failure to comply with this requirement, will result in FECAFOOT taking all its responsibilities without hesitation in accordance with the legal framework in force,” FECAFOOT added.
Reports had also indicated that the federation was about to send the U20 to Garoua to play against Namibia, but the juniors were instructed by the state to disembark the plane as the only team authorized to play the match is that of Marc Brys.
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