Cameroon football legend Roger Milla has issued a stern call to action to Vincent Aboubakar, captain of the national team, the Indomitable Lions. Speaking on Cameroonian sports radio RSI on Friday, Milla addressed the ongoing tensions within the team, particularly following a challenging match against Zimbabwe in Kampala just three days earlier.
In recent months, Cameroonian football has been plagued by a conflict between the Ministry of Sports and the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) regarding the management of the national team under coach Marc Brys.
While the Indomitable Lions have managed to secure decent results on the pitch—two wins and two draws under Brys’ leadership—the off-field turmoil has cast a shadow over their success.
Milla, a revered figure in Cameroonian football, believes that this internal strife must come to an end, and he sees the team’s leaders, especially Aboubakar, as the ones responsible for restoring harmony.
Milla did not mince words during his interview, criticizing Aboubakar for his perceived inaction. “They are the bosses of the team, a captain must bang his fist on the table to say that enough is enough,” Milla asserted.
He emphasized that Aboubakar, as captain, should not succumb to external pressures but instead take a firm stand to unite the players and quell the unrest that has been brewing within the squad.
Milla’s comments come as a direct challenge to the 32-year-old captain to take greater responsibility in leading the team through these turbulent times.
Milla’s remarks have sparked considerable reaction across Cameroon. The former striker, who enjoyed a prolific career with clubs like Saint-Étienne and Montpellier in the 1980s, has never shied away from expressing his opinions on the state of Cameroonian football.
His criticism of figures like Marc Brys and Joseph-Antoine Bell, who he believes have contributed to the current discord, further underscores his frustration with the state of affairs.
The turmoil within the Indomitable Lions reached a peak during their last gathering, where tensions flared over mandatory tests required by CAF for team management.
Players, including Franck Zambo Anguissa and Bryan Mbeumo, attempted to address the situation, but the majority, led by Aboubakar and goalkeeper André Onana, sided with those opposing the CAF requirements.
The situation escalated to the point where police were called in to escort the players to the base camp of the Minister of Sports, highlighting the severity of the discord.
In a bid to resolve the situation, the players sought the intervention of Cameroon’s Prime Minister, who ultimately sided with FECAFOOT.
As the Indomitable Lions prepare for their next round of international duty early next month, the team faces the critical task of putting aside their differences to focus on their upcoming matches.
Whether Milla’s impassioned plea will resonate with Aboubakar and his teammates remains to be seen, but the need for unity and leadership within the team has never been more pressing.
