Sports in Cameroon: A recap of the 2023 Season
By Biwah Bryan
Cameroon has had a fascinating year in sports, with ups and downs locally and internationally. From football to handball, gymnastics to cricket, here’s a recap of the most exciting stories from Cameroon’s 2023 sports season.
1.Local Football:
Interpools, Elite Two and Elite One Championships
The 2023 National Interpool football tournament took place in Yaounde, where Bafmeng United from Bamenda and Isosha of Limbe qualified for the 2023/2024 Elite Two Championship Season. In the Elite Two Championship, Victoria United of Limbe and Dynamo of Douala finished first and second, consequently earning their place in the Elite One Championship. Meanwhile, Ofta of Kribi, As Lausanne and Stade de Bertoua finished at the bottom and were relegated from the Elite Two Championship.
In the Elite One Championship, Cotton Sports of Garoua emerged as champions, beating Bamboutos FC of Mbouda, Canons Sportifs of Yaounde, and Gazelle of Garoua. They were crowned overall champions of the Elite One Championship for the 14th time.
- Cameroon Cup and Super Cup
The 2023 Cameroon Cup saw PWD of Bamenda losing against Fovu club of Baham to place first at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium. Fovu, winners of the Cameroon Cup, then faced Elite One champions, Cotton Sports, in the Cameroon Super Cup but were beaten with a 2-0 scoreline.
- Local Football: Female Division One championship
In female football, ITa Mbong FC of Nkambe and Dja Sports both qualified to compete in the 2023/2024 Female Division Championship. Lekie Football Filles finished the 2022/2023 season as champions and winners of the Female Cameroon Cup after defeating As Fortuna at the finals.
- Extracurricular Sports: University Games
The 2023 University games took place in Ngaoundere with a range of disciplines, including football, handball, volleyball, gymnastics, and others. The University of Yaounde 1 finished overall first after winning 37 medals in total.
- International Sports
Coton Sports of Garoua represented Cameroon in the CAF Confederations Cup but suffered an early exit in the preliminary round. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon qualified for the AFCON as first in their group after facing Burundi and Namibia in the 2023 African Nations cup qualifiers. On the other hand, the Indomitable Lionesses failed to qualify for the AWCON after being knocked out of the qualifiers by the Harambee Starlets of Kenya. The U20 Lionesses, however, successfully passed through the third round of the U20 FIFA women’s world cup qualifiers, defeating Botswana and will face Egypt in the fourth round.
- Volleyball: Male, Female Volleyball
Cameroon’s female volleyball team finished third in the 2023 African Women’s Volleyball Championship hosted in Cameroon while the male team finished fourth in the African Men Volleyball Championship hosted by Egypt. In the U17 female category, Cameroon ranked third in the African Nations Volleyball Championship in Nigeria and qualified for the world championship.
7: Cricket ( International sports)
Finally, Cameroon’s national cricket team crashed out of the African Nations Cup qualifier staged in South Africa after losing two of their group matches in Johannesburg.
- Combat sports: Francis Ngannou/ Tyson Fury
WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury beat Cameroonian former UFC fighter Francis Ngannou on a split decision in a non-title fight in Saudi Arabia that almost delivered one of boxing’s biggest upsets.
