Recently, it was indicated that President Paul Biya had resolved the dispute between the Ministry of Sports and FECAFOOT. However, the latest reports suggest otherwise.
The Minsep – FECAFOOT affair is far from being settled. Tensions between the two parties are palpable, particularly exacerbated by the appointment of the new coaching staff for the Indomitable Lions, led by Belgian Marc Brys.
Indeed, the Cameroonian men’s national football team has found itself in an unprecedented situation in recent weeks. Currently, there are two coaching staffs, both led by Belgian Marc Brys. Alongside the first staff appointed by the government through the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, there is another staff appointed by the Executive Committee of the Federation, led by its president Samuel Eto’o. The power struggle for control over the national team continues unabated.
The Ministry of Sports remains steadfast in its position. Despite reports from Jeune Afrique suggesting that Paul Biya supported Eto’o’s staff over the one proposed by the ministry, which had imposed coach Marc Brys, Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi’s circle continues to deny this assertion.
“A high-ranking official from the ministry reportedly stated, as relayed by our colleagues at Sport News Africa, “The head of state has not given any directive to the minister [of Sports] to accept a possible modification of the composition of the technical staff of the national team, appointed on April 2nd with his full agreement.”
“This rearrangement will never be considered by the government,” added a close associate of the minister, speaking anonymously. “There is only one coaching staff, the one appointed by the Presidency. The State has not backed down against Samuel Eto’o. It is the State that employs the technical staff of the Indomitable Lions. The State cannot pay coaches it has not recruited.”
These statements echo those of the ministry’s secretary general, Cyrille Tollo, who had previously asserted, “There is only one technical staff at the helm of the Indomitable Lions, appointed according to the very high directives of the Presidency.” The relationship between the Ministry of Sports and the Cameroonian Football Federation is strained.
Following the non-renewal of Manager-Coach Rigobert Song’s contract, the government, through Minister of Sports Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, unilaterally appointed a new coaching staff led by 61-year-old Belgian Marc Brys. FECAFOOT, led by Samuel Eto’o, denounced the illegality of this measure. In reality, its choices did not find favor in the eyes of the government. So far, FECAFOOT’s position has not changed.
According to Sport News Africa, Samuel Eto’o was reportedly rebuked on April 30 during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office by Secretary General Seraphin Magloire Fouda. The latter expressed his dissatisfaction, but Eto’o remained firm, thereby defying the Secretary General of the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh. The latter had officially announced via letter the appointment of the staff composed of François Omam Biyik, Ashu Besong, Benjamin Banlock, and others, with the “high agreement” of the head of state.
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