Cameroon’s national football team, the Indomitable Lions, is embroiled in rumors of an alleged theft within its ranks, targeting defensive midfielder Martin Hongla. However, coach Rigobert Song has vehemently denied the accusations, asserting that Hongla’s absence from the recently announced squad for the upcoming AFCON 2023 is purely a matter of personal choice.
In Thursday’s squad announcement, Song selected 27 players for the prestigious tournament, notably omitting Martin Hongla, who has been absent from the national team since June.
Despite his consistent performances with Hellas Verona in Serie A, Hongla has now missed his fifth consecutive call-up.
Cameroonian journalist Marc Chouamo Ngangoum raised eyebrows by suggesting that Hongla’s exclusion was linked to allegations of theft.
According to Chouamo, who claims to have insider information, Hongla was reportedly blacklisted for an incident involving theft during a recent gathering of the team.
During a press conference, Rigobert Song categorically refuted these claims, dismissing them as baseless and asserting that the decision not to summon Hongla was entirely unrelated to any alleged misconduct.
“This is nonsense. He (Hongla) never stole. There is no problem. He’s a player I’ve known since the U23s. It’s my son.
Martin Hongla has never stolen. It is simply a choice on my part not to summon him. It is on this basis that I left,” stated Song emphatically.
The denial from the legendary former captain of the Indomitable Lions, who boasts 137 caps and 4 goals in his illustrious career, provides a strong rebuttal to the swirling rumors.
As the controversy unfolds, the focus now shifts to the upcoming AFCON 2023, where Cameroon aims to assert its dominance on the African football stage, with or without Martin Hongla in the squad.
«Il n’a jamais volé. Ce sont des bêtises. Il y a aucun problème. C’est un joueur que je connais depuis les U23. C’est mon fils.»
C’est quoi cette histoire de présumé vol de Martin Hongla ?
— Cyrhille Hervé M. (@_Cyrhille) December 28, 2023
