Tensions are escalating just hours before Cameroon’s AFCON 2025 qualifier against Namibia, as the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot), under the leadership of Samuel Eto’o, has reignited the threat to field the U20 national team in the crucial match scheduled for Saturday in Garoua. This drastic measure comes amid a dispute over player passports, which Fécafoot claims are being withheld by the Ministry of Sports.
Fécafoot has expressed frustration over the continued possession of the Indomitable Lions’ passports by the ministry’s staff, which has hindered the registration of the senior team for the upcoming match.
In response, the federation, through a court bailiff, has formally demanded that head coach Marc Brys hand over the passports to ensure the team’s participation.
In a move to anticipate potential complications, Fécafoot has called upon the U20 squad, which had initially been scheduled to travel to Garoua earlier in the week before plans were abruptly changed.
According to local reports, the young Cameroonian players, bolstered by a few individuals from the domestic league, arrived in the northern region of Cameroon by road on Friday evening.
Should the situation with the passports remain unresolved, these U20 players may indeed take to the field against Namibia.
This latest development is a significant escalation in the standoff between Fécafoot and the national team’s coaching staff.
The federation’s threat to deploy the U20s, if coach Marc Brys does not relinquish the passports, underscores the severity of the situation.
Nathan Douala, a player from Victoria United who garnered attention earlier this year, is reportedly prepared to lead the U20 squad alongside his teammates in defending Cameroon’s honor at the Stade Roumdé Adjia in Garoua.
The stakes are high, and the atmosphere around the match has become increasingly charged.
Reports indicate that the regional governor, Abate Edi’i, has called upon police forces and the Rapid Intervention Battalion (BIR) to maintain order and prevent any potential unrest.
The situation has drawn widespread attention, with speculation mounting over whether Fécafoot’s actions are a strategic bluff or if they genuinely intend to field the U20 team.
As the clock ticks down to the match, the football community and fans alike are left wondering how this unprecedented situation will unfold.
The possibility of a youth team stepping in for a critical qualifier underscores the depth of the conflict within Cameroonian football and raises questions about the broader implications for the team’s campaign in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
The next few hours will be crucial in determining whether the senior team will be able to take their place on the pitch or if Fécafoot will follow through on its remarkable threat.
Arrivée des Lions U20 en compagnie de quelques joueurs de la MTN Élite One à Garoua !
Les joueurs auraient voyagé dans l’anonymat et ont rejoint la capitale du Nord en vue d’une possibilité de disputer la rencontre contre la Namibie.😳😲🇨🇲🦁 pic.twitter.com/MWpnKkND38
— Griffe 2 F⚽⚽T🇨🇲 (@Griffe2Foot) September 6, 2024
