By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Cameroon has spent more than FCFA 2.3bn (£3m) in compensation to sacked national football team coaches since 2011, figures show.
The latest payout, a reported FCFA 1.2bn (£1.6m) to former coach Antonio Conceição da Silva Oliveira, has sparked public anger.
Seven coaches have been dismissed for poor performance while managing the Indomitable Lions in the past 13 years.
The high cost of these dismissals has led to accusations of mismanagement of public funds.
Javier Clemente, sacked in 2011, received FCFA 200million (£260,000). Between 2013 and 2015, Volker Finke and Ibrahim Tanko were paid FCFA 325million (£422,000) and FCFA 124million (£161,000) respectively.
Hugo Broos received FCFA 148million (£192,000) in 2016, while Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert were paid FCFA 207million (£269,000) and FCFA 100million (£130,000) between 2018 and 2019.
The most substantial payment is to Antonio Conceição, who was dismissed in 2022. Officials say the payment is necessary to avoid potential sanctions from football’s governing body, FIFA.
However, many Cameroonians question why such large sums are being spent on settlements which can be avoided.
“I am particularly disappointed,” said football supporter Helbert Num. “This money could be better spent on developing our football leagues.”
Critics like Jean Marie expressed frustration over the government’s handling of public money. “This is money that could build hospitals, classrooms, and other essential services,” he said.
Peter Nji highlighted a “troubling pattern” of the government settling damages. “Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT and the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education, MINSEP seem to blame each other,” he said.
Louisa added, “Many communities lack basic services like water and electricity, yet we are disbursing over a billion for trivial matters.”
Meanwhile in a statement, Gabriel Nloga, head of communication at MINSEP, said the payment was necessary to protect the reputation of Cameroonian football and avoid suspension from FIFA and CAF competitions.
He said the government had intervened in the dispute between FECAFOOT and Coach Conceição, highlighting the President’s commitment to football. While acknowledging FECAFOOT’s responsibility, he said the government would cover the cost, urging the federation to be more responsible in the future.
On his part, FECAFOOT denied sole responsibility for Conceição’s dismissal, stating the decision was backed by the Sports Minister and the President of the Republic.
Jean Marie Nkoussa, FECAFOOT’s Head of Communication, said the federation had not typically been involved in coach appointments, except for Rigobert Song.
He also said firing coaches for poor performance was not unprecedented, citing previous cases.
FECAFOOT expressed regret over what it described as MINSEP’s “departure from the call for unity” in managing football, made by President Paul Biya.
Conceição was dismissed after leading the Indomitable Lions to a third-place finish at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Cameroon. He took his case to FIFA, which ordered FECAFOOT to pay the compensation.
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