Cameroon

4, July 2024

Switzerland: Cameroonian who smuggled compatriots under guise of fake handball team expelled ⁰

A man who posed as the coach of Cameroon’s national handball team has been given a two year suspended sentence and barred from Switzerland for six years.

The Cameroonian national had arrived in January at Zurich airport along with 19 compatriots without visas. Upon arrival, the 45-year-old declared that he was traveling with his team to participate in the African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

All false, according to prosecutors. The man acknowledged the charges and the penalty demands and was therefore tried today by the District Court of Bülach in canton Zurich under the fast-track procedure.

The Cameroonian national was found guilty of qualified promotion of illegal entry and stay. The man, who has been in preventive detention since his arrival in Switzerland, will now be released and handed over to the Immigration Office, which will handle deportation.

Of the 19 Cameroonians who arrived with him in Switzerland, 17 later traveled to France to live a clandestine existence. Two remained in Switzerland, applied for asylum and in turn became untraceable.

The defendant said in court that he received 2,500 euros for his service. The man, a sports teacher, is actually employed by the Cameroonian handball association.

“We are in the realm of highly professional migration crime,” the single judge said in presenting the ruling. Real passports were used and many efforts were made to make the group look like a real national handball team. “In light of the confession, however, a two-year sentence seems appropriate,” the judge added.

In addition to the suspended sentence and expulsion from Switzerland, the sentence also includes the confiscation of 22 passports. These will be handed over to the cantonal police, who will use them to train officers at the document examination center.

Source: Swissinfo

27, June 2024

Samuel Eto’o questioned by CAF over match-fixing ⁰

The interrogation of Samuel Eto’o comes ten months after he was accused of involvement in match-fixing by players.

The President of Cameroon’s Football Federation had a session with the disciplinary panel of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday.

There was no word on how he pleaded. The questioning took place behind closed doors.

The allegations contend that Eto’o irregularly helped one club to rise to the top of the Cameroonian League two years ago. His accusers say they have supplied evidence pinning the former Barcelona player to CAF.

The match-fixing charge is not the only one bothering Eto’o.

His accusers also lodged a complaint with FIFA citing unethical behavior over an ambassadorial deal he secured with a sports betting company.

If found guilty, Eto’o faces no less than a lifetime suspension from football.

Eto’o was elected head of Cameroon’s football federation in December 2021.

Source: Africa News

27, June 2024

Former Indomitable Lions midfielder Landry Nguemo passes away in car accident ⁰

Former Cameroon and Celtic midfielder Landry Nguemo has tragically passed away following a car accident.

The incident occurred in the locality of Ngomo, along the Yaoundé – Bafoussam axis in Cameroon.

The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) confirmed the heartbreaking news.

“The Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has just learned the tragic news of the passing of former Indomitable Lion Landry Nguemo in a traffic accident,” it read.

“Nguemo, who was a key player for the Cameroonian national team from 2006 to 2014 and a former member of Girondins de Bordeaux, will be remembered for his contributions to football. FECAFOOT extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire football community.”

Landry Tsafack Nguémo, born on November 28, 1985, began his football career in Dschang, a town in western Cameroon.

He played for various local teams before moving to Yaoundé at the age of 13. Nguémo was soon spotted by scouts from Nancy, who invited him to France for trials.

He signed with the club at the age of 15 and made his debut four years later, in August 2005, as a substitute against Lyon in a league match.

In January 2009, he expressed interest in moving away from Nancy amidst rumors linking him to Arsenal, Sunderland, and Everton.

On January 31, 2009, he scored his first goal for Nancy, a dramatic 90th-minute winner against Le Havre.

His second goal came under similarly dramatic circumstances, scoring again in the 90th minute against Marseille on May 23, 2009.

In July 2009, Nguémo joined Celtic on a one-year loan with an option to make the move permanent.

Wearing the number 6 shirt, he quickly made an impression. His debut came in a 0-0 draw against Cardiff City, where he was awarded Celtic’s man of the match.

He made his competitive debut in a Champions League qualifying tie against Dynamo Moscow and played a crucial role in the team’s victory in the return leg, helping Celtic advance to play Arsenal.

Nguémo made 35 appearances for Celtic, but a permanent move did not materialize, and he returned to Nancy.

In July 2011, he transferred to Bordeaux, signing a three-year contract. During his first season, he played in 33 of Bordeaux’s 38 league fixtures, helping the team secure fifth place and qualification for the Europa League.

In October 2013, he suffered a scare during a Europa League match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, initially suspected to be a minor heart attack. However, tests found nothing serious, and Nguémo returned to action two weeks later.

After a brief stint with Saint-Étienne in 2015, Nguémo moved to Turkish football, signing with Akhisar Belediyespor and later with Kayserispor.

On the international stage, he made 42 appearances for Cameroon, scoring three goals, and participated in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

Nguémo retired from professional football after a spell at Norwegian side Kongsvinger in 2019.

In May 2020, he began a coaching career, starting as U18 manager at French club COS Villers-les-Nancy and later as a youth coach at AS Nancy.

Beyond football, Nguémo had a passion for falconry, keeping a modest collection of birds of prey. His favorite was a white-tailed eagle named Mr. George, after George Weah.

Source: Pulsesports

25, June 2024

Indomitable Lions: Samuel Eto’o and MINSEP at it again ⁰

The Cameroon football scene has become entrenched in a crisis with no immediate resolution in sight.

The language between Samuel Eto’o, FECAFOOT, and MINSEP has notably changed since the Marc Brys affair. Tensions remain high despite the FIFA window for World Cup 2026 qualifiers and the “Indomitable Lions’” relatively favorable results.

President Paul Biya had promised a significant aggiornamento during his February 10, 2024 address to the youth, but this transformation seems distant. Initially touted as a major turning point for Cameroonian football, this project is now mired in an open conflict between the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP) and the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

Recently, Joseph-Antoine Bell, an iconic figure in Cameroonian football as a former goalkeeper and astute observer of the Indomitable Lions, criticized President Biya’s apparent silence amidst the power struggle between FECAFOOT and MINSEP. This dispute, which has fueled discussions for weeks, was central to Bell’s remarks on the late-night program “La Vérité en Face” on Équinoxe TV. Bell criticized FECAFOOT while explaining why President Biya, aged 90, seems relatively indifferent to the intense conflict over the national team’s staff.

According to the former Olympique de Marseille player, Biya’s prolonged silence may be strategic, potentially paving the way for future sanctions: “Do not expect the Head of State to meddle in quarrels every day. He has spoken (…) He will calmly judge who listens, who understands, who does not understand. When he returns, it will be to strike,” he declared.

The former Cameroonian international suggests that Samuel Eto’o, president of FECAFOOT, could be under presidential scrutiny, though not explicitly named. Bell believes that Biya had granted full authority to MINSEP in his national address following the Indomitable Lions’ dramatic elimination in the 2023 AFCON round of 16.

The Cameroon’s tarnished image, divided public

This conflict has significantly damaged the country’s international image in recent months, heightening tensions within Cameroonian football. According to Paul Moutila, the crisis shows no signs of abating in Cameroon. The core of the dispute is far from what everyone thinks. Indeed, one must go back to the era of the previous coach. This new revelation complicates matters. It is entrusted that the dismissal of Rigobert Song after the disappointing performances of the Indomitable Lions at the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire has only worsened tensions.

The choice of a new coach has become a real tug-of-war between the two institutions, each claiming authority from the “Very High Presidential Instructions.” This quarrel has left Cameroonians deeply disillusioned. On social media, debates have become bitter, escalating into a virtual war of invective and accusations. Cameroon’s once-proud footballing nation image is now tarnished. The international press has not hesitated to report on these internal conflicts, contributing to national embarrassment.

Despite this chaotic atmosphere, the Indomitable Lions have managed to rebound with a resounding victory over Cape Verde (4-1) and a creditable draw against Angola (1-1). However, these successes fail to mask the underlying problems. It is imperative to end these sterile disputes and focus on the real goal: the development of Cameroonian football and the satisfaction of supporters. MINSEP and FECAFOOT must transcend their differences and cooperate for the good of national football.

Culled from Africa Sports

12, June 2024

Indomitable Lions: When will Minister Mouelle Kombi end his tragi-comedy? ⁰

One would have thought that following FIFA’s letter of May 6, 2024, urging Cameroon’s ministry of sports and FECAFOOT to comply with agreements they had signed, especially as the global soccer governing body had clearly stated in its letter that FECAFOOT was the body which had to appoint technical team members for the country’s national team, the country’s sports minister, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, would see the errors of his ways and seek reconciliation.

On the contrary, the professor of law and practicing lawyer has gradually morphed into a practicing liar by inventing tricks and, sometimes issuing veiled threats to get his way around a rule that has stood the test of time.

Mouelle Kombi seems to think that the world operates with the rules established by Cameroon’s lawless government.

During the match pitting the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde in Cameroon, Minister Mouelle Kombi took his comedy and chaos to the stadium.

Due to his greed and lawlessness, two different technical teams had to put Cameroon’s lawlessness and disorder on display for all to see although Cameroon’s major television network, the Cameroon Radio and Television Corporation (CRTV) did a good job of sparing its viewers the pain of seeing the country being ridiculed due to Mouelle Kombi’s Amerisized ego.

Both technical teams were kicked out of the coaching zone and were reduced to sorry spectators of the match.

Before the stadium incident, other scenes of Mouelle Kombi’s drama had played out at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé and even at the training grounds. The “puppet master” has been using the “Belgian farmer” who now moonlights as a coach of the Indomitable Lions to destabilize the same team he is expected to coach.

The “Belgian farmer” knows that the chaos the practicing liar has outsourced to him will only hurt him in the long run and he is now cutting a conciliatory figure.

But it is not up to the Belgian farmer to put an end to Mouelle Kombi’s unacceptable drama. The Belgian farmer has already eaten and danced with the devil. He is therefore caged in silence forever.

He cannot talk and, on Sunday, Mouelle Kombi’s ghost followed the Belgian farmer to Luanda in Angola. A new act in Mouelle Kombi’s tragi-comedy played out at the Nsimalen International airport with the Minister’s appointed technical team being refused access to the aircraft that was transporting the Cameroonian delegation to Luanda.

After long and tedious negotiations, members of Mouelle Kombi-appointed technical team were allowed into the aircraft but had to be squeezed in the tail of the airplane.

Omam Biyik, a once venerated Indomitable Lions striker and members of Mouelle Kombi’s cast knew that the headaches ahead would expose them to more humiliation but they must obey their puppet master.

Hunger and poverty hardly breed virtue and they have successfully reduced Omam Biyik to a beggar. He has lost his sense of dignity and he is willing and ready to implement Mouelle Kombi’s devilish plan without batting an eyelid. He prefers to err on the side of illegality if only he can receive a meagre salary. Many wonder where he has kept the money he earned as a player.

Omam is today a member of the Kombi cult. From Nsimalen, they flew into Luanda conscious of the fact that they could face enormous embarrassment. Omam and his fellow Kombi loyalists came out of the airplane with stomachs full of butterflies. The scene had changed.

Angolans were not going to help Mouelle Kombi’s men stage their tragi-comedy on Angolan soil. Their names were not on the match list submitted by FECAFOOT. Another round of negotiations had to start. Before Omam and his fellow Kombi disciples earn their first salaries, they would have run out of saliva. The negotiations are always tough and long. When you side with illegality, know that yours will be the kingdom of humiliation.

Despite the preaching, begging and talking, Kombi’s disciples had to pay their visa fees and many of them did not have much money on them. Angolans are tough with their visas, and sometimes, even with a diplomatic passport, you still have to answer some head-breaking questions.

Though Kombi’s disciples had been let into the country, they knew they might not have a good place to rest. Luanda is a very expensive city. Hotel rates are astronomically high and it was when Omam and his colleagues in crime reached the hotel wherein the Indomitable Lions were being lodged, that they finally figured out that they would be homeless for two days.

FECAFOOT does not recognize the Kombi disciples and had not reserved any rooms for them. Cameroon’s chaos cannot play out in Angola. The scenes are different and the law works in Angola.

Omam, the man who had brought fame to Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup competition was reduced to a beggar. Like other members of the Kombi technical team, he had to share a room with the younger players, many of whom could be his children. Worst of all, the days-long fatigue caused Omam and his colleagues to snore all night long as if they wanted to generate more electricity for the city of Luanda. Poverty has a way of humiliating people!

Despite Mouelle Kombi’s attempt via telephone to talk the Angolan sports minister into his chaos, the Angolan football federation made it clear that only documents forwarded by FECAFOOT had the force of law. Federations don’t deal with sports ministries. They deal with sister federations and in Luanda, Omam and other disciples of Kombi knew that they were in real trouble. Hunger and thirst kept Kombi disciples company throughout their stay in Luanda.

They were allowed into the stadium only after having paid for their tickets like ordinary spectators. Many of them could be seen cutting lonely and miserable figures. Only the FECAFOOT appointed technical team members enjoyed their full benefits. They played their roles fully while Kombi’s disciples watched in utter dismay.

Mouelle Kombi had lost the battle of Luanda but had succeeded not only to expose his disciples to humiliation in its superlative degree, but also to frustration. He had also carefully crafted a plan to expose them to hunger and desperation. And the plan actually worked.

With all what has played out over the last week, Mouelle Kombi must understand that more humiliation will be downloaded on his illegal technical team as the Indomitable Lions work hard to obtain a spot in the upcoming World Cup competition.

But there are more problems for Minister Mouelle Kombi. The invoices of the companies he signed mutual agreements with are already due. FECAFOOT only pays for contracts it negotiates. It has no business with third-party contracts. Over the last two days, the beleaguered minister of sports has been calling on the FECAFOOT finance officer to pay the invoices for contracts he signed, but the FECAFOOT finance officer cannot disburse any money without approval from the FECAFOOT boss.

The finance officer has clearly stated that he cannot make any errors of judgment as auditors will hold him responsible for any poorly managed finances. The finance officer understands that the justice system would come after him like a Tasmanian devil if he breached the law.

Mouelle Kombi is running out of steam. He has been bruised and ruffled by a FECAFOOT President who likes to err on the side of the law and has a tough personality. Omam and his fellow disciples may never receive a salary for the unpalatable drama they have helped Mouelle Kombi to stage.

Kombi has a choice! Sue for peace or continue making a fool of himself. If he does not embrace decency and collaboration, then he should know that there is more disgrace for him on the horizon.

By Staffman Alain Agbor Ebot

7, June 2024

‘Dictator’ Eto’o and chaos in Cameroonian football ⁰

Cameroonian football is in a state of chaos.

For a proud country which boasts five continental titles and the most World Cup finals appearances by an African nation, the past two months have seen a very public row play out over who should coach the Indomitable Lions.

Last week Belgian Marc Brys was removed as boss – only to be reappointed within 48 hours.

But the sideshow off the pitch ahead of crunch 2026 World Cup qualifiers is only the tip of the iceberg in a battle for control of the game.

The man now running football in the Central African nation is former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o, a legend of the game on the continent and Cameroon’s record goalscorer, who was elected football federation (Fecafoot) president in December 2021.

But Eto’o has been described as a “dictator” by one former international team-mate because of the way he is steering the organisation – epitomised by the spat with the nation’s Ministry of Sport (Minsep) over Brys.

“Samuel was the biggest player in Africa but there’s a lot of trouble around him,” the retired player, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of a backlash, told BBC Sport Africa.

“He does not listen to advice. When you manage people you do not need to [act] like a dictator.

“I didn’t know he would be like that, and it will be hard for him to continue.”

Players have issued a plea for the team to be kept “politically free” but some fans have become so desperate that they have called on world governing body Fifa to suspend Cameroon.

The curious case of Marc Brys

The arrival of Brys as coach in April, after the departure of Rigobert Song following a last-16 exit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), created a storm few would have expected.

Fecafoot expressed its “great surprise” when Minsep announced the appointment of the 62-year-old whose coaching career has been with clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

Eto’o’s alternative list of high-profile candidates had reportedly included two-time Afcon-winning coach Herve Renard, Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro and ex-Nigeria boss Jose Peserio.

“The only problem was the salaries,” Cameroonian sports journalist Giovanni Wanneh told BBC Sport Africa.

“Brys is not the best, but we’re not talking about someone we picked from the gutters. Minsep has played this card before and it worked out fine for Cameroon.”

In Cameroon, as is the case in several other African countries, the government pays the salaries of the national team’s coaching staff and feels entitled to weigh into Fecafoot’s affairs.

Eto’o did not turn up to the presentation where Brys signed his contract on 8 April, and their first in-person meeting on 28 May quickly descended into an unseemly row.

An empty chair sits behind a desk with a place card for the Fecafoot president, microphones and flowers — Image caption,Eto’o was absent for Brys’ unveiling, with the Fecafoot president saying he only received an invitation two hours before the event and was busy organising his father’s funeral

Fecafoot reacted by replacing Brys with an interim coach, only to quickly backtrack after pressure was applied by Minsep.

Yet a tense atmosphere continued this week when the Indomitable Lions squad assembled in Yaounde ahead of the visit of Cape Verde in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

Players were met by two different sets of administrators at the team hotel, and Fecafoot did not provide kit for the first training session due to be held by Brys – leading forward Moumi Ngamaleu to call for unity.

“The responsibility is for you to help keep the team politically free and to maintain a clean environment for us to perform without problems,” his Instagram message read.

“We hereby approach you to overcome the differences, put the ego aside and remember we are all here to put the people of Cameroon on the map and give them honour.”

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana was among several players who reposted Ngamaleu’s message.

A senior Confederation of African Football (Caf) official said it is open to mediating in the row between Fecafoot and Minsep, although such a request is yet to be received.

‘Grave irregularities’ under Eto’o

Eto’o’s treatment of Brys is only the latest instance of his behaviour garnering negative attention since he assumed control of Fecafoot.

“The fact that you are a top footballer doesn’t automatically make you a great administrator,” said Wanneh.

“When he came in, I thought he was going to change the narrative in our football. But Cameroon football is living its worst moment.”

In July last year, a group representing amateur clubs in Cameroon called on the 43-year-old to resign, citing “grave irregularities” in the organisation.

That included Eto’o taking an ambassadorial role with a sports betting company – potentially in violation of both Fifa and Fecafoot rules.

Moreover, an investigation by Caf into allegations of improper conduct against Eto’o is ongoing.

“He is the legitimate president of the federation. But nobody is above the law,” Caf secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba told BBC Sport Africa.

A battle for control

Cameroon's President Paul Biya and First Lady Chantal Biya wave at the crowd from a car during the opening ceremony of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations — Image caption,Several footballing decisions in Cameroon have been made “on very high instructions” from President Paul Biya (left), who has been in power since 1982

In Cameroonian sport, the influence of President Paul Biya has been keenly felt in the past.

He insisted on Roger Milla being included in the squad for the 1990 World Cup – with the then-38-year-old netting four times – while the appointment of Brys’ predecessor Rigobert Song in 2022 was made “on very high instructions” of President Biya.

It is the government financing and pumping in the money,” said Wanneh.

“Fecafoot is not structured in a way that it can cater for its burden and expenditure,” the journalist added. “If it was then we would not have this scenario.”

Countries whose governments interfere in footballing affairs are at risk of suspension by Fifa – a fate that has befallen many African nations in the past, including Cameroon – yet Minsep has so far trodden a path which has not provoked the Zurich-based governing body.

While Fifa’s social media channels have been bombarded by messages to take action, Eto’o retains the backing of many Indomitable Lions supporters in his bid to break free of perceived governmental control.

Cameroon fans hold out their hands in the stands of a football stadium — Image caption,Eto’o’s running of the game has split opinion among Cameroon fans

“Eto’o knows the challenge he’s getting into,” said Heuyo Hubert on the streets of Yaounde.

“I can only wish him good luck because it’s not easy to have Cameroonians who can fight for their rights to be restored nowadays.”

Another fan, Calvin Ngimbond, felt the row with Brys “had its place”.

“There was need for things to be made clear. Marc Brys must align himself with the requirements of the Fecafoot president,” he added.

“We hope things will improve for peace to reign.”

Fecafoot, Minsep and Fifa were all contacted by BBC Sport Africa to comment on recent developments, but none of the parties responded.

World Cup qualifiers now loom large against two sides who out-performed Cameroon at the 2023 Afcon, with a trip to Angola on Tuesday following the tie against Cape Verde.

Brys has already endured a turbulent start to his new job and will be aware the pressure could soon increase.

“Cameroon are no longer the biggest national team in Africa,” the anonymous former international added.

“I am very sad when I look at what’s going on. If they want to be back at the top level, they need to reorganise everything.”

Headlines being made ‘for wrong reasons’

Analysis by Paul Njie, BBC reporter in Cameroon

The ruckus in Cameroonian football is not new, but the way the rift between Fecafoot and the Ministry of Sports has morphed is staggering.

Now, not only are football stakeholders divided, but Indomitable Lions supporters are also at odds over who is right and wrong.

In many ways the row has been seen as a true test of Eto’o’s leadership in a country where government interference in football is almost the norm rather than an exception.

Despite the deluge of allegations against his management and the investigation by Caf over alleged misconduct, the four-time African Player of the Year’s popularity has not waned much. He continues to enjoy widespread love, admiration and support in the country and beyond.

It is unclear how the uproar will end, but there have been growing calls for the country’s President Paul Biya to personally address it once and for all – especially as both rival camps claim to be implementing “high instructions” from him.

Until then, much of the discourse on the streets, in markets, bars, and local media, will continue to be dominated by doubts as to whether the Indomitable Lions will even play their World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde and Angola.

Cameroonian football is once again making headlines across the world, but for all the wrong reasons.

Source: BBC

6, June 2024

Stupid Francophones: sports minister appeals for unity amidst growing tension ahead of World Cup qualifiers ⁰

Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Moulle Kombi on Thursday appealed for unity amidst growing tension between the ministry and Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon will play crucial World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde on Saturday and Angola three days later but weeks of crisis among football stakeholders in the country could impact the performance of the team.

“I implore you to open your spirits and heart to victory. Let’s adhere to optimism. The challenges can only be fought with the contribution of everyone, with positive contributions from everyone,” Kombi said at a meeting to deliberate on the state of preparedness of the national men’s football team.

“It is therefore a question of appealing to the demands of responsibility, to the consideration of the primacy of the general interest, the interest of Cameroon in the sporting field, which surpasses sectoral, fragmentary and partial interests. We appealed to the consolidation of the sacred union around the Indomitable Lions,” he added during the meeting in the capital.

Cameroon football has been in crisis since April after Kombi appointed Belgium’s Marc Brys as head coach, but his choice was initially rejected by FECAFOOT, which complained that it was not involved in the appointment procedure “in disregard of texts”. The association later confirmed Brys as the new head coach, but dismissed some members of the technical staff appointed by the minister, and appointed new ones to replace them.

On Monday, FECAFOOT did not provide training kits to the team after Brys insisted to work only with the technical staff appointed by the minister.

On Wednesday, FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o said, only the technical staff appointed by FECAFOOT will be allowed to access to the stadium during the match between Cameroon and Cape Verde.

Source: Xinhuanet

4, June 2024

Tokyo: 52-year-old Cameroonian makes history as world’s fastest marathon wearing a toghu ⁰

In an extraordinary feat of endurance and cultural pride, 52-year-old Cameroonian runner Afowiri Fondzenyuy has set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon run while wearing a traditional toghu. Afowiri completed the marathon in an impressive time of 4 hours, 24 minutes, and 20 seconds, capturing the world’s attention and celebrating Cameroonian heritage on a global stage.

The marathon, held in Tokyo in March 2024, was marked by Afowiri ‘s vibrant and intricately embroidered toghu, a traditional garment of the people of Cameroon. The toghu, typically worn during significant cultural ceremonies, added a unique challenge to the race due to its elaborate design and weight. However, Afowiri’s determination and cultural pride propelled him to achieve this remarkable milestone.

Afowiri ‘s journey to the record was one of dedication and perseverance, he combined his passion for running with a deep-rooted love for his cultural heritage. Speaking after the race, Afowiri expressed his joy and pride, stating, “This record is not just for me but for all Cameroonians and Africans. It shows that we can honor our traditions while achieving greatness in modern endeavors.”

Inspiring many with his selfless dedication, Afowiri, a marathon runner who began his journey in 2011, continues to run marathons not for titles or personal glory, but to raise funds for underprivileged children. Over the past thirteen years, Afowiri has participated in numerous worldwide marathons, channeling all proceeds towards providing better opportunities and resources for needy children.

Afowiri’s mission began as a personal challenge but quickly transformed into a philanthropic endeavor after witnessing the struggles faced by underprivileged children in his community. “Running has given me a platform to make a real difference,” Afowiri stated. “It’s not about the accolades or the recognition; it’s about giving these kids a chance at a brighter future.”

His efforts have garnered significant support from local and international communities, with donations pouring in to support his cause. Each marathon he completes not only raises essential funds but also raises awareness about the issues faced by underprivileged children, inspiring others to contribute in their ways.

Despite the physical and mental demands of marathon running, Afowiri 52 remains steadfast in his commitment. “Every mile I run is for them,” he shared. “Knowing that my efforts can help change a child’s life keeps me going, even when the race gets tough.”

The event garnered widespread attention, with spectators and many celebrities applauding Afowiri’s unique achievement Christopher John Lamora, United States ambassador to Cameroon has also applauded him. Social media was abuzz with praise and admiration for his accomplishment, with many lauding his efforts to bring cultural attire into the sporting world.

Guinness World Records officials announced on their site and social media officially verifying the record, after ensuring that all criteria were met. They confirmed that Afowiri had indeed set a new benchmark, making his feat an official entry into the record books. This achievement adds to the growing list of diverse and inspiring records that showcase the incredible potential of human beings.

Afowiri ‘s success is expected to inspire future generations of athletes, and philanthropists particularly those from Africa, to embrace their cultural identities while striving for excellence in various fields. His record-breaking run serves as a testament to the power of combining tradition with modernity, creating a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.

As Afowiri returns to Cameroon, he plans to continue promoting sports and cultural heritage, encouraging athletes to pursue their dreams while staying connected to their roots. His achievement is a reminder that with passion, dedication, and cultural pride, anything is possible.

Source: Vanguard

4, June 2024

Indomitable Lions: FIFA threat hangs over Cameroon ⁰

A FIFA threat is hanging over Cameroon following the FECAFOOT – Ministry of Sports contention.

A source close to both the FIFA and FECAFOOT has hinted that FIFA is contemplating a 3-year ban on Cameroon if the government’s interference does not stop.

It should be recalled that the world governing body had released a statement on May 6, 2024, on this situation calling on both parties to respect agreements which had been signed, underscoring that the appointment of a technical team was FECAFOOT’S prerogative.

Meanwhile, a FIFA delegation is expected in Yaounde by midday today to discuss the situation which has divided the country and brought shame to the government. The delegation, according to our source, will be meeting with the feuding parties.

It is expected that with the arrival of the FIFA delegation, the hatchet will be buried once and for all.

Cameroon is a great footballing nation which brings a lot of fanfare to footballing events organized within and outside the continent. Banning Cameroon will rob the world of that fanfare.

By Besong Eunice Nchong with files

30, May 2024

Cameroon and Azerbaijan explore sports cooperation ⁰

Azerbaijan Deputy Minister Mariana Vasileva held talks with Odette Assembe Engoulou, President of the Cameroon National Badminton Federation and Vice-President of the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee.

During the meeting, Mariana Vasileva informed Odette Assembe Engoulou about Azerbaijan’s achievements and recent developments in sports.

At the same time, Elnur Mammadov, Head of the Sports Department at the Ministry, and Ramil Hajiyev, General Secretary of the Azerbaijan Badminton Federation took part in the meeting.

Source: News.Az