Cameroon’s national football team encountered yet another internal dispute upon arriving in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday. The tension between the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) and the Ministry of Sports (Minsep) continues to cast a shadow over the team’s preparations for their upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifier against Zimbabwe.
Fresh off a narrow 1-0 victory against Namibia, which kept them at the top of Group J, the Indomitable Lions, led by captain Vincent Aboubakar, now face the challenge of maintaining their momentum as they prepare to take on Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
However, their focus has been disrupted by ongoing conflicts between the two key governing bodies in Cameroonian football.
In a scenario that mirrors the chaos leading up to the Namibia match, the team found itself caught in a tug-of-war between Fecafoot and Minsep over accommodation arrangements in Kampala.
Upon their arrival in the Ugandan capital, the players were unexpectedly “redirected” by Minsep officials to a hotel different from the one initially booked by Fecafoot.
The move was reportedly orchestrated by Cyrille Tollo, a technical advisor to the Minister of Sports, further fueling the ongoing power struggle between the two entities.
According to local radio station RSI, which was quoted by the specialist account AllezLesLions, the players are now under Minsep’s control and are not currently at Fecafoot’s disposal.
This development has sparked concerns within the federation, as Fecafoot is responsible for registering the players on the official match sheet—a task that requires access to their passports.
The exact status of these documents remains unclear, raising questions about whether Minsep will cooperate or if the standoff will escalate further.
The situation recalls the turmoil that surrounded the team’s preparations for the Namibia match, where similar bureaucratic infighting threatened to derail their efforts.
As the players focus on securing another victory to solidify their position in Group J, the off-field distractions risk undermining their performance.
This ongoing conflict between Fecafoot and Minsep not only disrupts the team’s immediate preparations but also highlights the broader issues plaguing Cameroonian football governance.
The power struggle between the two organizations has repeatedly spilled into the public domain, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension that could have long-term consequences for the national team’s stability.
As the Indomitable Lions gear up for their crucial clash against Zimbabwe, it remains to be seen how this latest episode will play out.
Will Minsep relent and allow Fecafoot to carry out its duties, or will the internal discord continue to hinder the team’s progress? The situation in Kampala is a stark reminder that, while the players battle it out on the pitch, another, equally significant battle is unfolding behind the scenes.
🔴 L’équipe nationale A du Cameroun fait déjà face à un nouvel écueil à peine arrivée à Kampala.
En effet, les lions indomptables ont été conduits dans un hôtel autre que celui réservé par la FECAFOOT. Le conseiller technique du MINSEP, Pr Cyrille Tollo qui s’était avancé à… pic.twitter.com/oIw50mVVss
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) September 8, 2024
