There are threats by armed Anglophone separatists to disrupt the 2021 African Cup of Nations which is expected to open in Cameroon on Sunday.

Some armed groups have vowed to disrupt the competition and sent threatening letters to the teams in Group F (Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia) who will play in Limbe and train in Buea, the seaside resort and capital of the south-west region respectively.

“The threats are very serious,” said Blaise Chamango, head of the NGO Human Is Right, based in Buea. “On Wednesday, there was an explosion in Limbe in a takeaway, it is a strong message,” he said by phone to AFP.

“The government has deployed heavily armed soldiers on almost all the intersections of Buea and Limbe in particular. The defence and security forces are carrying out arrests and systematic searches in several areas,” Chamango said.

Already, there are speculations of a possible postponement of the tournament due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the new wave of the Omicron variant.

For the past four years, the regions – inhabited mainly by the Anglophone minority – of the South-West and North-West have been in the midst of a bloody conflict between armed groups demanding independence and the security forces, who have carried out a ruthless crackdown.

According to international NGOs and the United Nations, the violence has left more than 3,500 people dead and more than 700,000 displaced in the west, mainly civilians.

President Paul Biya, on Friday, mentioned “several cases of surrender” in the armed groups. But they “continue to engage in criminal activities, multiplying attacks with improvised explosive devices and murders of unarmed civilians”, warned the head of state, who is criticised by NGOs for being absolutely inflexible on the issue of the Anglophone regions.

In the face of the threat, the government repeatedly insists that “security will be ensured”.

– Arrangements” –

In the capital Yaounde, some 250 km east of the border with the English-speaking areas, the atmosphere was relaxed with few security agents observing the final preparations around the brand new stadium of Olembe, built purposely for the CAN.

“The security situation is really only a concern in the North West and South West but I think our defence forces have enough experience to deal with it,” said James Mouangue Kobila, president of the Human Rights Commission and professor of public law.

“The security arrangements are exceptional considering the stakes and we had the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in January 2021 without incident,” he argues.

Cameroon also faces another threat, in the far north, with jihadist attacks, which have however decreased in intensity since the death last May of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram.

Source: Africa News

Club legend Samuel Eto’o has been immortalised at the Visit Mallorca Estadi with the unveiling of a personalised mural.

The former striker was in attendance with RCD Mallorca, FC Barcelona and LaLiga directors for the unveiling of our tribute painted by local artist René Mäkelä ahead of our hosting of La Blaugrana.

“It’s incredible to come back home and see all this,” Eto’o told club media. “It brings back beautiful memories and it seems like it all happened yesterday. The truth is that RCD Mallorca gave me everything, everything I am.

“My love has always been for RCD Mallorca – everyone knows that. I love Barcelona very much but Mallorca comes before all the other clubs in the world.”

Club president Andy Kohlberg was also in attendance for the visit paid by the recently nominated president of the Cameroon Football Federation to witness the super-imposed image of Eto’o come to life on a 10 by seven metre mural.

“Samuel Eto’o is an icon for our club,” Kohlberg said. “I am very happy and proud to present this tribute to him. It is a great honour to have him here with us. The mural by René Mäkelä was an idea we had several months ago and here we are now – it’s wonderful.”

Mäkelä is a renowned artist who has painted contemporary personalities and celebrities around the world, but could not resist the opportunity to create something with his local club.

“This work is a gift from all Mallorquinistas to one of the most important icons in the club’s history,” the artist said. “It has been a complicated challenge due to the size and weather conditions, but I think that the mural captures the idea that we wanted to transmit.”

“We are very proud that René Mäkelä has collaborated with us,” added Alfonso Díaz, CEO of Business. “We think that he has been able to represent in this mural the importance that Samuel Eto’o has had for RCD Mallorca.” 

Culled from RCD Mallorca

Droves of armored vehicles are patrolling the streets of Limbe in Cameroon’s conflict-torn southwest region ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) soccer finals starting on January 9 that separatist militants have vowed to disrupt.

Cameroon is hosting the tournament in six cities, but security is potentially most at threat in Limbe, a city on the tropical Atlantic coast whose surrounding region has been rocked by armed attacks since war broke out in 2017.

The conflict, in which armed groups are trying to form a breakaway state called Ambazonia, has killed at least 3,000 people and forced nearly one million to flee.

Violence has worsened this year as separatists increase their use of improvised explosives.

“My fear … is that the recent phenomenon of bomb blasts which have been happening in other parts … could be a common phenomenon during this AFCON period,” said local journalist Honore Kuma.

Insecurity is just one issue facing the tournament. Concerns about the readiness of stadiums and the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant have also made headlines in recent weeks.

Limbe’s Omnisport Stadium will host matches from Group F comprising Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Gambia. The group’s first game will be between Tunisia and Mali on January 12.

The nearby regional capital of Buea, where some Group F training will take place, was struck by two explosions in November including one in a university that wounded 11 students.

Authorities have kept security plans under wraps, but promised there will be no disruption to Group F matches.

Armed police, gendarmes and soldiers are already positioned at major intersections. Checkpoints have been set up on roads into the city.

“AFCON will take place in very good conditions. There are no grounds for concern,” said Emmanuel Ledoux Engamba, senior official of Fako territory, which includes Limbe and Buea.

The separatist conflict began in the English-speaking northwest and southwest regions in 2016 when teachers and lawyers protested against their perceived marginalization by the primarily French-speaking national government.

A violent crackdown by security forces radicalized the movement. Armed groups formed amid the regions’ forests and cocoa plantations.

As Limbe readies for an influx of fans, some residents said they are not focused on soccer.

“How will I enjoy it while my brothers and sisters are suffering because of the Anglophone crisis? Every day, they are dying,” said 33-year-old Roland, who lives near the Limbe stadium.

Source: Reuters

Premier League trio Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez will be star attractions in Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations, which promises to be “exceptional” according to the top football official in the continent.

The 36-match group phase kicks off on January 9 at the newly built Olembe Stadium in Yaounde and the tournament concludes at the same 60,000-seat venue on February 6 with the final.

Champions Algeria top a 24-team cast that includes former title-holders Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia.

While record seven-time winners Egypt will be making an unrivalled 25th appearance at the African football showpiece, Comoros and Gambia are debutants.

It is a wide-open competition with Algeria, unbeaten in 33 matches since late 2018, the logical favourites, but there are at least seven other nations capable of conquering Africa.

Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia will believe they can go all the way while Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali should not be underestimated.

Guinea, who rank among the outsiders, have been told by junta leader Mamady Doumbouya that they must repay state-funded preparation costs if they do not return to Conakry as champions.

The build-up to the biennial tournament has been marred by rumours that it would be postponed or cancelled owing to a worldwide coronavirus surge.

There have also been reports of Cameroon racing against the clock to complete preparations for the biggest African sporting event.

This is the fourth attempt by the central African state to play hosts after failing to meet 2019 deadlines and being replaced by Egypt, then losing out to unfavourable weather conditions and Covid-19.

But as Liverpool forwards Salah and Mane, Manchester City winger Mahrez and other Premier League stars prepare for action, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe is upbeat.

“We are going to host with the people of Cameroon an exceptional tournament. It will be the most successful AFCON (Cup of Nations),” he said during a visit to Yaounde.

“The world will witness the best of African football and hospitality. We can host a football tournament as good as any in Europe.”

Angry Eto’o

Motsepe and Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o, now head of the national football federation, have been stung by suggestions that the Cup of Nations should be delayed or scrapped over the pandemic.

“If the Euros took place this year in the middle of a pandemic, with full stadiums in many cities, why would the Cup of Nations not be played in Cameroon?,” asked Eto’o in a Canal+ interview.

“Or are people trying to say that, as always, Africans are not worth anything so we have to put up with it?”

As Cup of Nations organisers applied finishing touches to the six venues, from Douala on the Atlantic coast to Garoua in the north west, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp stirred a verbal storm.

Klopp referred to the Cup of Nations as a “little tournament” during a press conference only to later say “I did not mean it like that”.

Senegal coach and former star Aliou Cisse was furious, asking reporters in Dakar “Who does Klopp think he is?

“I respect Liverpool but not Klopp, who undermines African football. He is where he is today because of African footballers like Salah, Mane, (Naby) Keita and (Joel) Matip.”

Having to free Africans during the European season is a sore point with managers and Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti labelled the Cup of Nations an “invisible monster”.

The Serie A title challengers could lose Algerian Adam Ounas, Cameroonian Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Nigerian Victor Osimhen and Senegalese Kalidou Koulibaly for close to six weeks.

Senegal-born Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says the Cup of Nations “needs to be more respected because this tournament is as important as the Euros”.

Another coach facing potential unhappiness is South Africa-born Pitso Mosimane from African and Egyptian club giants Al Ahly, nine of whose stars are in various Cameroon-bound squads.

Ahly are scheduled to compete at the Club World Cup in the UAE between February 3 and 12, creating a headache if any nation with Ahly stars reaches the early February semi-finals in Cameroon.

Source: AFP

Four members of the Ethiopian delegation to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon have tested positive to covid-19, the local sports newspaper, Sports Glitz reports

The Ethiopians were the first team to arrive in Yaounde for the tournament, followed by the Sudanese. Two days upon arrival in Cameroon, 4 members of the Ethiopian delegation tested positive for Covid-19.

“Results of the tests came in yesterday morning. Immediately, as expected, all members who tested positive were quarantined, with the medical team further monitoring other members of the Ethiopian delegation”, the paper reported.

The Ethiopian squad arrived on Sunday for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2021 finals, set to kick off on 9 January 2022. The delegation landed at the Nsimalen International Airport of Yaounde.

As part of their preparations, coach Wubetu Abate and his charges have a friendly, scheduled on Thursday, December 30.

They will take on Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane at 3:30 pm. Ethiopia are in group A alongside: Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Cape Verde.

Ethiopia starts her campaign against Cape Verde on January 9.

Source: PMNEWS

Football players of host nation Cameroon have reported for camp to kick-start preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for next month.

The Indomitable Lions on Monday began lodging and camping at the Mundi Complex, some 20 km from Yaounde where they are expected to spend close to two weeks training.

Fifteen players out of 28 called to represent the Central African nation took part in Monday’s training session before the arrival of the rest of the teammates.

Cameroon, who will be seeking a sixth title in the biennial competition, is scheduled to play a friendly against Guinea on January 3 in Yaounde.

Cameroon and Burkina Faso will play the opening match at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde when the championship officially begins on January 9.

The continent’s biggest biennial football competition has been moved twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic and wet weather.

The tournament, which features 24 teams, will end on February 6.

Source: pmnews

Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o owes nearly one million euros in taxes from his time in Spain, local authorities said Monday.

The 40-year-old, who earlier this month was elected president of the Cameroon Football Federation, appeared on a list published by the Spanish tax office of people and companies that owe over 600,000 euros ($678,000).

The former striker is listed as owing 981,598.19 euros to the Spanish tax office.

The four-time African player of the year played for a series of Spanish clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, before retiring from football in 2019.

Contacted by AFP, a tax office spokesman said he was not authorised to give details on the player’s tax debt.

Spanish public prosecutors in 2016 accused Eto’o of conspiring to evade 3.9 million euros in taxes owed on income from his image rights when he was playing for FC Barcelona.

Over 7,200 names appeared on the tax office list that was published on Monday, including Twitter and Spanish TV personality Kiko Matamoros.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar topped the annual list last year, with the tax office saying at the time he owed 34.6 million euros from when he played for FC Barcelona from 2013-17.

Spain has cracked down on footballers for not paying their fair share in taxes in recent years, including Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.