Namibia’s Brave Warriors will hope to capitalise on the turmoil engulfing Cameroonian football when they face the Indomitable Lions for a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier in Douala on Saturday.
The hosts reportedly find themselves caught in an escalating power struggle between the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) and the ministry of sport, with the conflict forcing Fifa to intervene.
World football’s governing body has called for a truce and that Fecafoot be allowed to manage its affairs independently.
The disagreement has led to confusion not only over the choice of the stadium, but also the location for the team’s training camp.
The clash between Fecafoot and the ministry of sport has resulted in conflicting instructions being sent to the players regarding their travel arrangements.
According to reports from Équinoxe Television and Radio, some players received contrasting flight itineraries – one instructing them to land in Douala and another directing them to Yaoundé.
This situation has caused confusion and frustration among the players.
“I personally received two flight plans – one tells me to go to Douala, and the other says my destination is Yaoundé. This is embarrassing,” one of the 24 players called up by head coach Marc Brys says.
Two other players have confirmed that they too have received conflicting travel instructions.
The first group of players arrived in Cameroon several days ago, anticipating the start of the preparatory camp scheduled to start yesterday.
However, the uncertainty surrounding the location of the training camp has left the team in limbo.
As the players were set to gather, it remained unclear which city will host the Indomitable Lions’ training camp.
The outcome of this dispute will likely be determined in the coming days, with both the national teams’ preparations and the outcome of the upcoming Afcon qualifier hanging in the balance.
Fifa is calling for a revision of the 2015 agreement between the two entities, highlighting concerns over external interference in the federation’s operations.
In the letter, Fifa underscores that while Fecafoot and the Cameroon sport ministry have a collaborative agreement in place, the former must retain full autonomy over its sporting and organisational decisions.
This autonomy is crucial for Fecafoot to meet its statutory obligations without undue influence from external parties, Fifa has stressed.
The situation reflects broader challenges faced by football federations worldwide in balancing government relations with the need for operational independence – a core principle in Fifa’s governance framework.
As the spotlight remains on Cameroon, Fifa’s stance serves as a reminder of the potential repercussions of political interference in football administration.
Fecafoot has yet to respond to Fifa’s latest intervention, and it remains to be seen how both parties would address the call for a revised agreement.
However, with the potential threat of suspension looming, swift action may be required to safeguard the future of Cameroonian football on the international stage. – Adapted from Cameroon Concord
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