In Cameroon, the football world is preparing for the CAN in a climate of institutional crisis

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Olembé stadium in Yaoundé, Cameroon, August 8, 2021.

In Cameroon, football fans have plenty to feed their conversations these days, between the organization of the African Cup of Nations (CAN), scheduled for January 9 to February 7, 2022 in the country, and the problems recurring events that agitate the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot).

On the first point, Cameroonians hope that the worst is behind them. Despite incessant delays on the construction sites, in particular at the Olembé stadium in Yaoundé, the president of the African Football Confederation (CAF) Patrice Motsepe, visiting on September 16 and 17, assured that the body had ” never considered withdrawing the CAN in Cameroon ”.

Read also Cameroon: Samuel Eto’o announces his candidacy for the presidency of Fecafoot

In 2019, the country was forced to give up the organization of the competition because of delays in the work. Egypt had been chosen by CAF to replace him as host of the tournament.

Institutionally, however, the situation is frankly tense. On December 11, Fecafoot, currently headed by Seidou Mbomba Njoya (60), will meet its new president. Tuesday, September 21, Samuel Eto’o, the former captain of the Indomitable Lions – the nickname of the national team – formalized a candidacy that was no longer in doubt. The former FC Barcelona and Inter Milan striker is one of the three declared candidates, along with Emmanuel Maboang and Jules Onana, two players also passed through the den of the Lions.

“Reuniting the Cameroonian football family”

A few weeks before Samuel Eto’o’s announcement, many rumors suggested that his binationality would prevent him from running. Born in Cameroon, he has also held a Spanish passport since his visit to Barcelona (2004-2009). But Robert Schlick, chairman of the Fecafoot electoral commission, assured the World Africa this candidacy was ” quite valid “.

While the federation has been shaken by repeated crises and plagued by corruption scandals, Samuel Eto’o says he wants ” restore Cameroonian football to its greatness “. In the written presentation of his program, he insisted on the need “ ensure the regularity, attractiveness and visibility of local championships “And assures that he will refuse” the allowances provided for the post of president and that these funds will be allocated to amateur football “.

Read also “The players are held hostage by ego problems”: in Cameroon, football in turmoil

The former scorer also wishes, thanks to his notoriety and his imposing address book, to attract external funding. ” He intends to reunite the Cameroonian football family. And even before the officialization of his candidacy, he called many former internationals to try to convince them to support him. », Reports one of them.

Without quoting him, Samuel Eto’o criticized the record of Seidou Mbombo Njoya, whom he had nevertheless supported during his election in 2019. “ Expectations have not been met and it is important to learn from this failure “, He noted. The current president of Fecafoot, although he has not yet announced it, is also expected to stand as a candidate. An officialization which should cause a stir, while his election, contested by several Cameroonian football players, was canceled in mid-January by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).

“Paul Biya closely follows things”

FIFA had kept Seidou Mbombo Njoya in office, with the mission of working on the organization of new elections. “At first, we accepted this decision, but I consider that he is now judge and jury, which is not acceptable. “, Estimates Emmanuel Maboang, who had written about this to Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, without obtaining an answer.

A former member of Fecafoot, on condition of anonymity, predicts an electoral process promises to be chaotic. ” Since Samuel Eto’o announced his candidacy, we feel a real craze around him. Cameroonians want local football to come out of these crises which have lasted for years ”, he explains, recalling that Fecafoot was put on two occasions, in 2013 and then in 2017, under the supervision of FIFA and managed by two standardization committees. “Some consider it abnormal that Njoya benefits from the means of the federation to campaign », Continues this source.

Read also Corruption in Cameroon, “a gangrene that is slowly killing football”

The process is due to start on Friday, with the general assemblies of the departmental leagues. Emmanuel Maboang is convinced that it will not come to an end: “ There are already irregularities and appeals for annulment will therefore be filed. »An opinion that Robert Schlick does not share. The chairman of the electoral commission said he was convinced that ” this election will take place on a regular basis, in a calm and peaceful atmosphere ”.

Cameroonian political power, usually so quick to meddle in football affairs, remains surprisingly discreet despite the climate of tension. ” Paul Biya and his government do not want to be accused of interference, even if they follow things closely, sums up someone close to Fecafoot. They prefer to concentrate on the organization of the CAN, which already requires a lot of energy …

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