Football in Cameroon is grappling with politico-sportive turmoil following the controversial appointment of a new coach for the local national team.
It all began with the announcement by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Cameroon of the appointment of Belgian Marc Brys as the new head coach, replacing Rigobert Song, after the latter’s failure at the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
However, this decision was met with disapproval from the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, who denounced the fact that this appointment was made without prior consultation with the Federation. According to Eto’o, this appointment goes against the presidential decree governing the organization and management of national teams in Cameroon. He believes that the Federation should have a say in the choice of coach, in line with the 2015 agreement between the Ministry of Sports and the Federation, which stipulates that the Federation has a say in the appointment of national team coaches.
This situation has led to escalating tensions between the Ministry and the Federation, with veiled threats of sanctions from FIFA if the conflict is not resolved quickly. Moreover, this crisis comes at a crucial time for the national team, with two important matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers looming.
Beyond the political squabbles, Cameroonian football is also grappling with cheating scandals related to player ages. Samuel Eto’o, in an attempt to deflect attention from the political issues, has raised the issue of age falsification of 62 players, thus highlighting the challenges facing Cameroonian football both in terms of sports and ethics.
It is clear that football in Cameroon is facing major challenges, both politically and sportingly. Resolving these issues will require open dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders to ensure a better future for Cameroonian football.
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