By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, through its President, Samuel Eto’o, has send a letter to the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, MINSEP, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi clarifying misunderstandings surrounding the National Team in a letter sent to the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, MINSEP.
In a letter dated June 4 and sent to Prof. Mouelle Kombi, Eto’o draws Minister’s attention to the progress that has been made. He states that the federation, as usual, had taken steps such as issuing plane tickets to selected players, reserving hotel rooms, arranging airport shuttle logistics, inventorying equipment necessary for the match preparation phase, and holding preparatory meetings with the Coach.
Other actions included securing the availability of tickets, exchanging correspondence with the sister Federations of Cape Verde and Angola, sending summons to the clubs for the various players selected, and liaising with the various administrations providing support within the framework of the Cape Verde meeting (the SED, the DGSN, the Governor of the Central Region, etc.).
However, during a meeting on June 2, Eto;o said, Marc Brys, coach of the Indomitable Lions, unilaterally decided to modify the administrative and technical management of the Indomitable Lions appointed by the Executive Committee on May 8, 2024.
Despite taking all necessary measures to ensure a smooth arrival of players, Eto’o pointed out that FECAFOOT officials present at the Hilton Hotel to received players suffered a series of intimidations and threats with the collaboration of the Law Enforcement Forces who were present in large numbers with very specific instructions.
When the Federation employees were forced out of the Hilton Hotel, Eto’o noted that they had no choice but to take all the equipment necessary for the successful completion of the training camp to keep it safe at FECAFOOT headquarters.
“Indeed, it could not be deployed due to animosity and reversals of the Coach,” Eto’o wrote in the letter. “Nevertheless, the Federation remains available to provide the necessary equipment and materials subject to a formal written request sent to him.”
Eto’o stressed that the Federation, or the member association of FIFA or CAF, has the obligation to manage officials designated by FIFA or CAF for scheduled international matches. He further stated that only the members of the Technical Management appointed by the FECAFOOT Executive Committee are recognized by FIFA and authorized to receive the necessary accreditations.
“Mr. Minister, we would like to reiterate to you that an official international match between two Associations is organized by the Federation of the host Association, under the supervision of FIFA or CAF,” the letter stated.
It is important to note that FECAFOOT and MINSEP have been in disagreement since April 30. FECAFOOT has been contesting the technical list appointed by MINSEP, indicating that it has the right to do so as per the Presidential Decree of 2014.
MINSEP, however, argues that the 2015 Convention signed between the two parties gives the State the obligation to appoint the technical staff of FECAFOOT. MINSEP also cites the President’s Speech delivered on February 10, which indicated that instructions had been given to MINSEP to organize the national team given t poor outings in international competitions.
Despite the ongoing dispute, the Lions are currently in training camp for the upcoming matches against Cape Verde on June 8 and Angola on June 11. These matches count towards the third and fourth day of play in the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
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