The FIFA World Cup trophy was presented to one of President Paul Biya’s Anglophone secretaries passing for a Prime Minister and Head of Government Joseph Dion Ngute.

The FIFA delegation which presented the trophy on Thursday September 8, 2022 in Yaoundé was led by former French footballer David Trezeguet and Patrice Bila; vice President of the of The Coca-cola company for West and Central Africa, official sponsors of the trophy tour.

The Former French international and 1998 World Cup winner; David Trezeguet reportedly saluted Cameroon’s passion for football and the legendary achievements of the Indomitable Lions.

By Isong Asu with files from Rita Akana

The trophy of the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup “Qatar 2022” arrived in Yaoundé today Thursday, September 8, 2022 as part of the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour.

The Holy Grail will be exposed on Friday, September 9, 2022 at the Palais Polyvalent des Sports for a photo session open to the general public.

Football fans have also planned a music concert with some prominent Cameroonian artists in attendance including rapper Tenor.

The trophy arrived in Yaoundé from Senegal and will go to Morocco, one of the five African countries that qualified for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World.

It is vital to include in this report that the tour of the trophy started on August 24, 2022 from South Korea.

By Rita Akana

Rigobert Song, head coach of Cameroon’s national team, announced on Friday a provisional list of 36 players for pre-FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 friendlies against South Korea and Uzbekistan.

The list contains four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, eight midfielders and 14 forwards. Two local players are included in the squad while midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is absent.

Cameroon will kick off their trip on September 23 against Uzbekistan in Goyang, a northern South Korea city, before they return to Seoul to play South Korea on September 27 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Cameroon has been drawn in Group G with Switzerland, Serbia and five-time world champions Brazil. The Indomitable Lions will kick off their group stage against Switzerland on November 24.

Source: Xinhuanet

The FECAFOOT boss has expressed his desire to see the Indomitable Lions go all the way in Qatar and not just make up the numbers

Cameroon FA president Samuel Eto’o does not want the Indomitable Lions to just make up the numbers at the 2022 World Cup but rather try and bring the trophy home.

Cameroon are in Group G alongside five-time winners Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland as they return to the grand stage after failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament, but Eto’o wants them to grab the opportunity and go all the way.

“During last week’s General Assembly, we came together to discuss the road ahead for Cameroonian football,” Eto’o said via a social media post.

“We must seize every opportunity, nationally and internationally. We’ve made it to the World Cup, not to play extras but to dominate all seven matches and bring home the trophy.”

No African team has ever gone past the quarter-final at the World Cup and the Indomitable Lions’ best performance came in the 1990 edition in Italy when they reached the last eight.

Cameroon have also been to the 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 editions but have not gone past the group stages, making the desires of Eto’o all the more difficult.

The Indomitable Lions have also not been at their very best in recent matches, having lost 1-0 at home to Algeria before edging them 2-1 with an extra-time goal to seal their World Cup ticket in March.

That came after Cameroon had come from three goals down to beat Burkina Faso in the third-place playoff of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which they hosted and followed it up with a 1-0 victory against Burundi in a 2023 Afcon qualifier in June, a performance that did not impress Eto’o.

“I am not happy,” Eto’o told the players after the match. “I don’t care who you play against; you represent Cameroon. I am not happy at all. In my time, I missed the World Cup because I knew what problems I had. Those problems won’t repeat themselves while I’m president.

“Places in this team will be earned. Nobody, I repeat, nobody has a place guaranteed in this team. You must do your job. Whoever comes here to wear this shirt must do the job, or else, he goes and I will be happy to have the children play.”

The four-time African Player of the Year will hope that his charges have addressed the things he did not like in June’s performance before they take on Switzerland in their World Cup opener on November 24.

Cameroon have lined up two pre-World Cup friendly matches against South Korea and Uzbekistan next month.

Source: Goal.com

Cameroon Football Association boss, Samuel Eto’o has hinted that Cameroon coaches and scouts will attend Ghana’s international friendly against Brazil scheduled next month.

The West African country who are four times champions will face the five-time World Champions in a friendly game as part of preparations ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

The Indomitable Lions have been drawn in Group G alongside Brazil, Serbia, and Switzerland in the global showpiece.

However, Cameroon will face Cameroon in the final group game on December 2, 2022.

Speaking in an interview on Accra-based radio station Joy FM on Ghana’s friendly lineup against Brazil, Samuel Eto’o hinted that the technical team will be keeping an eye on that game.

“I believe one of Cameroon’s coaches will watch Ghana vs Brazil friendly anticipate and know what to expect,” the former Barcelona and Inter Milan forward said.

Samuel Eto’o is currently in Ghana for ambassadorial activities for Qatar ahead of the World Cup.

Source: ModernGhana

A total of 17 people connected to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have been reported missing since the event got underway, police have confirmed.

The Games, which have been widely viewed as a resounding success, got underway on July 28. But the enthralling fortnight has been tainted by 13 athletes, and four others who were part of the individual teams, being reported to authorities as missing people.

Police are currently working with immigration officials to ensure the welfare and safety of those who have been located. A force spokesperson said: “We’ve received a total of 17 missing people reports from visiting Commonwealth Games delegations – 13 competitors and four other delegation members.

Competitors and delegates from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Cameroon, Ghana and Botswana have been reported missing since the 2022 Games got underway in Birmingham.

Previously, Sri Lankan team spokesperson Gobinath Sivarajah revealed that some of the missing competitors were also members of the country’s armed forces. They included a male judo manager, a female judo athlete, two male wrestlers, three boxers, two male beach volleyball players and a female wrestler.

Source: The Mirror

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) said on Friday that Premier League outfit Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has switched allegiance from France to Cameroon.

Mbeumo’s decision came after “extensive discussions” with FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o, the FECAFOOT said in a statement.

“I’m impatient to begin this new adventure,” Mbeumo said in a tweet.

Mbeumo has made 10 appearances for France at the youth level and the FECAFOOT must obtain clearance from the FIFA to permit him to play for the Indomitable Lions.

FECAFOOT officials said they were confident such clearance will be quick to permit Mbeumo to feature for Cameroon at the World Cup in Qatar.

Source: Xinhaunet

Dear Mr. Eto’o,

This is to propose to you the creation of a Football Hall of Fame in Cameroon which will not only immortalize our football heroes and history but will also highlight the role some of our great footballers like you played in bringing joy and glory to our country.

Your name recognition and your convening power can help mobilize resources for this project. The proposal, if well-developed, could also go a long way in helping FECAFOOT to put the spotlight on those whose sacrifice and determination made Cameroonians proud.

I have been reading the stories of some of our greatest footballers and I strongly hold that such a rich history could be well-documented and marketed to young Cameroonians who may be interested in football or who may just want to know those who played for their country in the past. Seeing those faces on TV and other information platforms could remind many that some of our football heroes are still around, and that we are eternally grateful and indebted to them. 

Many Cameroonians have heard about Mbappe Samuel, Jean Moukoko (de Confiance) Toko Jean Pierre, Roger Milla, Mbida Gregoire, Kunde Emmanuel, Jean Manga Onguene and others who brought glory to our country, but as the years expire, many of these glorious stories also disappear just like our heroes of yesteryears. 

The notion of a Hall of Fame is purely American, but it could be copied and adapted to our context. This Hall of Fame could be a massive structure with sub-components such as conference centers, exhibition centers, a hotel, and archives where researchers can have up-to-date information on Cameroon’s football history.

Cameroon is a nation wherein the beautiful game is adored and anything regarding this game, which is more of a religion, can help to create jobs and opportunities for our youths who are so passionate about this game. The organization of an event such as “The Night of the Greats” will help to bring together some of our football living legends who have been forgotten for decades.

Such an event should also bring together advertisers, politicians and businesspeople who may see the event as a place for them to be in the spotlight which should, of course, come with a huge price tag. The spotlight is never cheap and FECAFOOT can use it to make money which could be invested in footballing activities across the country. 

FECAFOOT can put together a team of fine writers whose job will be to update documents and other information platforms relating to our football greats and heroes. This proposal could be a money spinner if well-developed and it could also bring a lot of hope to our youths whose love for the beautiful game is immeasurable.

Financial independence should be FECAFOOT’s long-term goal and events and proposals like this one should help the country’s football governing body to find new and innovative ways of achieving that independence.

I stand by for any details you may require to develop this idea.

Sincerely,

Joachim Arrey

arreyjoachim@hotmail.com

The former Tottenham and Marseille star has agreed a two-year deal to join the ambitious club after leaving Dynamo Moscow by ‘mutual consent’

Turkish Super Lig side Sivasspor have completed the transfer of Cameroon forward Clinton N’Jie from Russian Premier League side Dynamo Moscow.

The former Tottenham Hotspur star has agreed a two-year deal with the club, joining as a free agent two weeks after the Russian side terminated his contract by ‘mutual consent.’

“As we continue with pre-season transfer, Demir Grup Sivasspor has signed a 2-year contract with right wing player Clinton N’Jie, who played for Dinamo Moscow in Russia last season,” stated a statement from the club on Friday.

The 28-yearold joins Sivasspor after three years in the Russian capital where he scored six goals in 66 appearances in all competitions.

N’Jie managed just one goal last season after featuring in 22 matches as Dynamo Moscow finished third in the Russian Premier League.

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations winner will hope to score more regularly for the Turkish side who finished last season with 52 league goals.

He will share the goal scoring burden with Ivory Coast international Max-Alaine Gradel, Mustapha Yatabare of Mali as well as Nigeria’s Leke James.

Yatabare was Sivasspor’s top scorer with 12 goals in 2021-22 with Gradel managing seven, one more than James, as Sivasspor finished 10th in the 20-team log but finished the campaign with silverware after defeating Kayserispor to win the Turkish Cup.

N’Jie is the club’s fourth signing this summer following the acquisition of right-back Murat Paluli and midfielder Robin Yalcin, both on free transfers, as well as Polish striker Karol Angielski from Radomiak Radom for €1 million.

Caped 42 times for Cameroon while scoring 10 goals, N’Jie came through the Brasserie Football Academy before joining Ligue 1 side Lyon in 2012, playing for two seasons after which he moved to Tottenham.

He spent one full season in North London where he made 14 appearances but was loaned out to French giants Marseille the following year.

N’Jie spent two further seasons at the Stade Velodrome, leaving for Russia in July 2019 after playing 83 games while scoring 16 goals.

He could make his Sivasspor debut on Saturday when they face champions Trabzonspor in the season’s curtain-raiser Turkish Super Cup. Sivasspor will open their Super Lig campaign against Gaziantep on August 6.

Source: Goal.com