Nathan Doualla has refused to extend his contract with Victoria United, opting instead to see out his current deal, which expires in June 2025.
The bold move has reignited the ongoing controversy surrounding the Cameroonian midfielder, whose short but turbulent career has been defined as much by off-pitch headlines as on-field promise.
Once hailed as a prodigious talent, Doualla first captured public attention during the early days of Samuel Eto’o’s tenure as president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot).
Officially listed as 17 years old at the time, Doualla was the youngest player selected for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite not playing a single minute in the tournament, he gained unexpected fame after a celebratory dance in the stadium tunnel went viral, turning him into an unexpected mascot of the competition.
However, the feel-good story took a dramatic turn in October 2024. A report alleged that Doualla’s real name was Alexandre Bardelli and that he was, in fact, 23 years old.
The claim cast a shadow over his meteoric rise, raising serious concerns about age fraud—an issue that has historically plagued African football.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Doualla remained untouched by any official disciplinary action, reportedly due to protection from powerful figures within Cameroonian football.
Throughout his club career, Doualla has remained closely tied to Victoria United, under the leadership of its controversial president, Valentine Nkwain. Known for his influence and uncompromising style, Nkwain has played a central role in Doualla’s development and visibility.
But the player’s latest decision has sparked a rift. According to local outlet Foot d’ici et d’ailleurs, Doualla plans to run down his contract and leave the club as a free agent—a move seen as a clear challenge to Nkwain’s authority and a financial blow to the club that invested heavily in his rise.
The situation has become even more complex given Doualla’s recent media appearances. In an April interview with Passion Foot Invest, he addressed the controversy around his age, painting himself as a victim of an orchestrated smear campaign.
“If you attack me, you attack Cameroon,” he said emotionally, attempting to frame the scrutiny as an attack on national pride.
While the statement earned him a wave of sympathy from some quarters, it also drew sharp criticism, with many observers pointing to the evidence against him as too compelling to dismiss.
Now, with just over a year left on his contract, tensions appear to be escalating. Doualla’s insistence on leaving without generating a transfer fee for Victoria United may trigger a fierce response from Nkwain, who has a reputation for defending the club’s interests with intensity. Whether this dispute leads to a quiet release or a protracted conflict remains to be seen.
In a football landscape where political influence and personal loyalties often play a significant role, Doualla’s defiance could either derail his career or serve as the beginning of an unexpected redemption arc.
One thing is certain: the story of Nathan Doualla is far from over.
🔴 Nathan Doualla revient sur la polémique liée à son âge, sa convocation pour la CAN et sa rencontre avec Samuel Eto’o :
« Ça m’a vraiment touché. Tout a basculé dans ma vie […] Je pense que c’était un acharnement sur moi […] Si tu es mon frère camerounais et tu te permets… pic.twitter.com/5Yy6ppxzWV
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) April 16, 2025
