Cameroon’s national team has encountered an unexpected travel setback just 24 hours before their crucial World Cup qualifier against Eswatini.
The Indomitable Lions were set to face Eswatini on Wednesday at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (GMT+2).
Departing from Yaoundé at noon Cameroon time (GMT+1) on Tuesday, the team embarked on their journey with their newly unveiled Fourteen jerseys, as announced by the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) on its official Facebook page.
The squad, led by head coach Marc Brys, traveled aboard a special Camairco flight with a stopover in Johannesburg.
However, their itinerary took an unexpected turn when their connecting flight to Nelspruit, located more than 300 km to the east, was abruptly canceled.
Reports indicate that Johannesburg Airport had been temporarily shut down, leaving the Cameroonian delegation stranded.
Players left stranded at the airport
Images circulating in the Cameroonian press depict players waiting at the airport as officials scramble for alternative travel arrangements.
📸 Les Lions indomptables sont actuellement en standby à l’aéroport de Johannesburg en raison d’un plan de vol mal ficelé. 😕🇨🇲
[Kamerfoot] pic.twitter.com/z6iBGnIgkg
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) March 18, 2025
The team is considering making the journey by road, though no final decision has been made.
The situation echoes last year’s ordeal involving the Nigerian national team, who found themselves stranded in Libya under similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Cameroonian media outlet Kamerfoot has suggested that the disruption stems from poor logistical planning.
Critics have been quick to point fingers at Fecafoot president Samuel Eto’o, who was recently elected to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee.
With a vital World Cup qualification match on the horizon, this setback is far from ideal for the Indomitable Lions.
As the situation develops, Cameroon will be hoping for a swift resolution to ensure their squad arrives in Nelspruit in time for the match.
