Once a beacon of pride for the nation and the African continent, Cameroonian football is now ensnared in a crisis that threatens to derail its progress. The tensions between the country’s football federation and its president on one hand, and the ministry of sports and the current head coach of the Indomitable Lions on the other hand, represent a broader collapse in the governance and execution of football at almost all levels. The central figures and institutions that should be leading Cameroonian football forward are now at the heart of conflicts, and accusations, causing the entire ecosystem of the sport to suffer.
Football icon, Samuel Eto’o, revered globally for his achievements on the pitch, took over the reigns of Fecafoot December 11, 2021 with the promise of revolutionizing the sport in Cameroon. From all the nooks and crannies of the country, the expectations were monumental, given Eto’o’s illustrious career and personal charisma. However, his tenure has been marred by controversies, internal disputes, and an apparent disconnect between his vision and reality.
Eto’o’s leadership style has come under fire for being overly authoritative, often described as “iconoclastic,” as he seeks to dismantle old systems without necessarily building functional alternatives. While he has brought international attention to Cameroonian football, seen hobnobbing with high-profile global figures such as the Emir of the Emirates, and is admired by football legends like Mourinho and Messi, this high-profile visibility has not translated into effective governance within the domestic football scene. Instead, the federation is plagued by power struggles and a lack of coherent strategy, which has sown discord among players, coaches, and other stakeholders.
The appointment of Belgian tactician Marc Brys as the head coach of the Indomitable Lions was initially met with optimism, as Brys brought a wealth of European coaching experience that was seen as crucial for reviving the national team’s fortunes. However, tensions quickly surfaced between Brys and Eto’o, with reports of disagreements over the appointment criteria and worst still, the management style and vision for the Indomitable Lions. Eto’o and Brys had a verbal scuffle that almost resulted in a physical altercation shortly before the Belgian’s debut with the national team. The latter has since not taken this lightly. In a recent interview with a Belgian media outlet Dhnet.be, Marc Brys accused Eto’o of his over involvement in the coaching process of his predecessor Rigobert Song. Angered by this, the Fecafoot boss through his Secretary General issued a query to Mr Brys who wasted no time to reply with a very strong worded letter. This has resulted in an increasingly toxic environment relationship.
The ministry of sports and physical education, under the leadership of Professor Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, has also been a major player in the current crisis. The ministry has frequently clashed with Fecafoot over issues ranging from funding to policy implementation. Rather than working collaboratively, these two bodies have often acted at cross-purposes and this has further complicated efforts to advance football in the country.
The ministry which is the titular institution of all sports federations in Cameroon has criticized Fecafoot for its lack of transparency and for engaging in deals that are perceived as self-serving rather than in the best interests of Cameroonian football. One example is the controversial contract with One All Sport, which was seen as a hasty replacement for Cop Sportif. This deal, meant to enhance the sponsorship portfolio of the national teams, has been mired in opacity, leaving many questioning its actual benefits.
Minsep’s stance on the crisis between Eto’o and Marc Brys has been somewhat ambivalent. While the ministry recognizes the importance of Fecafoot’s autonomy, it also cannot ignore the growing unrest within the football community and the negative impact this crisis has on the sport. This ambivalence has only fueled further disarray, as no clear leadership has emerged to reconcile the feuding parties.
At the heart of this crisis is the decline of Cameroonian football as a cohesive and well-managed institution. Domestically, the league system is in disarray. The transitional format of the national championship, now in its third season, has left clubs struggling to maintain form and competitiveness. Cameroon Cup winners Fovu of Baham and Elite 1 champions Victoria United’s participation in CAF competitions with only a handful of licensed players (8 for the formal and 13 for the latter) speaks volumes of the disorganization that plagues the system. And indeed, this is emblematic of the larger malaise: how can a country with such a rich footballing history allow its clubs to compete at the continental level with such limited resources?
Moreover, the international performance of the national team has been inconsistent. While Cameroon managed to pull off commendable performances against Cape Verde and Angola in the last Fifa window, these successes seem more like flashes of brilliance than the product of a well-oiled football machine. Namibia, the next opponent, is no longer seen as a mere underdog but a genuine threat due to the instability at the top of Cameroonian football.
The state of the transfer market further exposes the problems within football in the country. Players have limited opportunities to showcase their talents due to the short domestic seasons, which have been shortened even further by the transitional format. The international transfer market has been unkind to Cameroonian players, and the lack of proper infrastructure and development within the local leagues has made it difficult for them to compete on the global stage.
The path forward for Cameroonian football requires urgent reform. Fecafoot and the ministry of sports and physical education must clarify roles and responsibilities, allowing coaches like Brys the freedom to implement their strategies without undue interference. Both institutions must work together rather than against each other, as this will ensure that the interests of Cameroonian football are prioritized over political and personal agendas. The coach must also stay in his lane and understand that he works under the ambit of the federation.
Above all, the focus must return to the development of football at the grassroots level, the strengthening of domestic leagues, and the nurturing of local talent. The grandeur that Eto’o speaks of will only be realized if Cameroonian football can pull itself out of this crisis and rebuild from the ground up, with strong governance, transparency, and a shared vision for the future.
Commentary by Rene Katche
