AFCON : Where Are Cameroonian Patriots?

By Wilson Musa

When Cameroon was finally given host rights for the 2021 AFCON, it was a dream come true. Not only do Cameroonians want to watch the beautiful game from their backyard, but President Paul Biya also wanted to be remembered as the man who built stadia and hosted 24 teams from Africa.

The AFCON 2021 has come at a time when the country is going through political turmoil with longevity in power, strong MRC opposition, and massive internal criticism of Cameroon. Security challenges have also been at the neck of the 2021 host. Insecurity with Boko haram in the Far North, advancement of rebels from the Central Africa Republic in the East, Separation looming in the North West and the Far North regions.

It is true that some of these regions are not hosting the games but echoes from these areas gives a negative image of the host, Cameroon.

Faced with this backdrop, the so-called Patriotic Cameroonians who have chosen to defend the country Cameroon took to the social media to chant, “We want AFCON”. A single day could not pass by, without AFCOn trumpets sounding on and offline.

Those who flank themselves as Cameroonian Patriots who love their country eagerly awaited the AFCON 2021 until it arrived on January 9, 2022, with the opener between Cameroon and Burkina Faso, which the former won 2-1.

The effervescence at the newly built Olembe stadium was electric. This was a game, Patriots are leading!

But the next day at the Bafoussam stadium was ghosted. The stands were empty, a few spectators, a disgrace for the host.

A Jesuit Priest, Ludovic Lado has launched an operation, called, “Operation Empty Stadium”. He has said the Cameroon government should solve the armed conflict in the Anglophone regions before the AFCON.

Where were the loud-sounding Patriots? The Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium was also empty, as players had just a handful of spectators cheering them. Where were the Patriots?

This has raised a question as many keep pondering, who is a Patriot? Someone who sings from day to nightfall that I love Cameroon, I want the AFCON but cannot buy a single ticket to watch the match?

Someone who knows his loud-sounding is just to be politically seen and compensated?

In trying times like this, Patriots are expecting to storm the war zone Limbe to watch matches in Group F as a true sign of patriotism-especially social media noisemakers.