The Brave Warriors of Namibia yesterday morning received news that they will face Cameroon’s U/20 national team in Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier match in Daonde.
Later in the day, the decision was reversed, with the junior team taken off a flight and replaced with the seniors. The latter initially refused to comply with instructions from Fecafoot, the Cameroonian Football Federation, to represent the country.
Tensions have been mounting between the senior team and Fecafoot president Samuel Eto’o. While the specifics of the players’ grievances remain unclear, Eto’o’s leadership has been under scrutiny as he faces challenges from powerful political figures in the country, according to international media reports.
Eto’o, celebrated as one of Africa’s greatest footballers with a career that includes two Africa Cup of Nations titles, four African Player of the Year awards, and Champions League triumphs with Barcelona and Inter Milan, has recently faced several accusations. These include allegations of match-fixing, issuing physical threats, and inciting violence. In June 2022, he was handed a 22-month suspended prison sentence and fined after pleading guilty to tax fraud linked to his image rights while playing in Spain.
Despite the controversy, he continued to make headlines in May 2023 when he proudly announced his role as an ambassador for the gambling company 1XBet. This association raised eyebrows, as FIFA’s ethics code prohibits officials from participating in betting activities. Additionally, Eto’o apologised for a “violent altercation” with an Algerian journalist during the Qatar World Cup.
In August, CAF began investigating serious claims of improper conduct against Eto’o by various Cameroonian football stakeholders. The crisis in Cameroonian football deepened, following a disappointing performance in the recent AFCON in Ivory Coast. Tensions escalated further when Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi appointed Marc Brys as the new coach, a move that did not sit well with Eto’o.
The Fecafoot president initially refused to endorse Brys and the staff chosen by the ministry. The conflict reached a peak during a heated meeting at the Fecafoot headquarters in May, where Eto’o clashed with Cyrille Tollo, the sports minister’s technical advisor, demanding his expulsion for interfering in a private discussion.
As a result of this turmoil, Cameroon’s senior national team refused to comply with Eto’o’s directives, leading him to call up the U/20 team to represent the country. However, just moments before takeoff, the juniors were abruptly removed from their Camair-Co flight. The last-minute decision came after direct intervention from the Cameroonian government, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Sources indicate that the government decreed that only the senior national team, the Indomitable Lions, is authorised to compete in the crucial match. This resolution followed an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s office, where top officials attempted to resolve the escalating conflict between Fecafoot and the Ministry of Sports. Following this decision, the senior national team was instructed to depart for Garoua today.
As the squad prepares to head to Garoua, questions remain about the long-term implications of this crisis on Cameroon’s footballing future. Whether this resolution marks the end of the tensions or is merely a temporary fix remains to be seen.
The Namibia Football Association has yet to comment on the scenario, as they remain focused on Saturday’s encounter, ready to confront whichever opponent they face. Last year, Namibia produced a masterclass to defeat the five-time Africa champions Cameroon in their AFCON qualifier, with goals from Peter Shalulile and Absalom Iimbondi.
-Additional reporting New York Times and Cameroon Concord