Crucial period for Cameroon football, it either gets fixed or goes into complete shatters
By Joe-Pavel Nyuysuliy – Sports editor
Football in Cameroon is currently experiencing a clash of interests between the country’s football federation (FECAFOOT) and the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education.
The AFCON qualifiers coming up against Namibia and Zimbabwe on September 7 and 10 respectively, have fired the disputing parties into a further flex of muscles over who gives the final say on national team affairs.
The disagreement which started over the appointment of Indomitable Lions head coach Marc Brys on April 2, now seems to have degenerated to what might get Cameroon suspended by FIFA if things get out of hand on September 7.
Preparations are ongoing ahead of the doubleheader in the most undesirable of manners. While FECAFOOT prepared for the arrival of players and lodging in Douala, the sports ministry also made reservations in Yaounde, where almost all of the 24 selected players ended up going.
“Involved sometimes against their will, in this manipulative enterprise, a large number of players were taken out of the supervision provided by the federation” FECAFOOT said
“People with malicious intentions have taken advantage of the resources of the State to put on a disgraceful show for the whole world, tarnishing the image of our country and exposing the players to the sanctions provided for in the players’ statutes and transfer regulations” the federation pointed out.
Namibian football officials are already in Garoua ahead of the match on Saturday. The venue chosen by FECAFOOT, received CAF’s validation and the match officials were designated. However, the national office in charge of stadiums ONIES, has said it will only make the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde available.
ONIES opposed the usage of the Japoma Stadium that was first designated, and equally has not changed its position on the Roumde Adjia stadium in Garoua, which it said is not in good shape to host the match.
FECAFOOT gave the players in Yaounde until 8:00 am on September 4, to be present in Douala. “Failure to comply with this requirement, will result in FECAFOOT taking all its responsibilities without hesitation in accordance with the legal framework in force.”
FIFA reminded the federation on August 26, of the need to “cooperate” and “work calmly” with all parties involved. The world football governing body added that the parties need to respect each others competencies in order to avoid the actions of certain parties “being perceived as interferences,” which could lead to sanctions against Cameroon.
According to the letter from FIFA, the MINSEP/FECAFOOT agreement of February 5, 2015, has to be revised to restore the autonomy of the federation. FECAFOOT said it will be functioning by the draft revision already submitted to FIFA, while waiting for MINSEP’s response.
It is feared that if Cameroon loses by forfeiture to Namibia, and attracts FIFA sanctions, the crisis within the federation might deepen. The creation of a normalization committee is one of the steps the state may take, several pundits have speculated.
