By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
In recent weeks, the Cameroon football scene has been embroiled in a heated dispute between the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP) and the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
The battle for control over the leadership of the national team, the Indomitable Lions, has left football enthusiasts and pundits on edge. The conflict began when MINSEP appointed the technical staff for the Indomitable Lions.
FECAFOOT, however, refused to recognize the legitimacy of these appointments, leading to a war of words between the two entities. While MINSEP claims to be acting in good faith based on instructions from the country’s President and an agreement signed with FECAFOOT in 2015, the federation insists that the sole authority to appoint a coach lies with them, citing the 2024 law and FIFA regulations.
As the dispute escalated, FECAFOOT took matters into its own hands. While maintaining the coach appointed by MINSEP, the federation also made its own staff appointments. Consequently, the Indomitable Lions now find themselves with one head coach and two sets of staff—an unprecedented situation that threatens team cohesion and performance.
Despite FIFA’s proposal to mediate the conflict, but both parties continue to assert their legitimacy. The crisis remains unresolved, and the timing couldn’t be worse. The qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are just around the corner, and the uncertainty surrounding team management casts a shadow over Cameroon’s chances.
On May 10, Marc Brys, the coach recognized by both MINSEP and FECAFOOT, released the list of players expected to participate in the upcoming qualifiers. However, before unveiling the list, Brys was notably absent from a scheduled contact meeting with FECAFOOT’s appointed staff.
With the player list in hand, the next step should be player invitations. According to the law, FECAFOOT is responsible for transmitting the list to the Ministry of Sports and notifying the players and relevant federations.
But given the ongoing standoff, it remains uncertain whether FECAFOOT will proceed as expected. The looming qualifiers against Cape Verde and Angola in June hang in the balance, and fans anxiously await clarity on how the team will move forward.
As the Indomitable Lions prepare for their World Cup journey, the leadership crisis threatens to undermine their success. While the possibility of finding common ground between MINSEP and FECAFOOT remains uncertain, there is a pressing need for peace to prevail, especially considering that the eyes of football fans worldwide are fixed on this unfolding drama.
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