The 24 qualified countries for next year’s continental showpiece will learn their fates in Cameroon next month

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has announced the draw for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations will take place on August 17 in Cameroon.

The event which was initially postponed in June due to logistics related to the coronavirus has the draw scheduled for the Yaounde Conference Centre at 18h00 GMT with the 24 qualified countries to be drawn into six groups of four.

The 2022 Afcon is expected to start on January 9 until February 6 with five host cities confirmed for the biennial tournament.

“Caf together with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Cameroon announce that the draw for the final phase of the 33rd edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, will take place on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at the Yaounde Conference Centre, Cameroon at 19h00 local time (18h00 GMT),” read a statement on the Caf website.

“The draw will see the 24 countries that will participate in next year’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations descend in the country ahead of the 9 January 2022 kick-off.

“Caf will release more information in due course including the draw procedure and special guests.”

The qualification series ended on June 15 after Sierra Leone pipped Benin 1-0 in Guinea to secure the last ticket to Cameroon and the second spot in Group L, behind Nigeria.

Host nation Cameroon are in Pot 1 alongside Algeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria and Morocco while Egypt, Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Burkina Faso are in Pot 2. In Pot 3, there is Cape Verde, Gabon, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. Sudan, Malawi, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Gambia make Pot 4.

The tournament was first planned to take place between June and July 2021, but it was brought back to the January/February window in 2021 due to unfavourable climatic conditions in Cameroon. Caf was forced to move the tournament after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted economic activities and football’s calendar last year.

Source: Goal.com

Initially led by the Italian Gruppo Piccini, the construction of the Paul Biya Stadium is now being handled by Magil construction.

The Canadian company Magil has been drawing on its own funds to carry out work on the Paul Biya Stadium, which is due to welcome the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February 2022. Now, it desperately wants to be paid.

The Biya criminal gang in Yaoundé recently pleaded for a suspension of interest payments on its sovereign debt with the right hand and with the left hand the regime called on the banks to loan it more money to enable it to complete construction of the Paul Biya Stadium.

All what the so-called CPDM barons claimed to have done with the money received for the Africa Cup of Nations project ranges from plain fiction to the absurd.

Correspondingly, Franck Mathière, the vice-president of the group building stadiums for the Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo regime returned to the country in April after obtaining a suspension of the Interpol Red Notice against him. The Frenchman was detained in Ukraine after Nigeria issued the warrant.

The appearance in Yaoundé on 15 April of the vice-president of Canadian group Magil Construction, Franck Mathière, alongside sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi raised eyebrows both in Yaoundé and Abuja.

How could the Frenchman have returned when only a few weeks earlier, he was banned from leaving Ukraine due to an Interpol Red Notice issued against him? His case has set tongues wagging in Nigeria – which issued the international arrest warrant in 2018, accusing him of corruption – but in Cameroon, where Magil is leading the construction of the Olembe stadium he is seen as a messiah.

While his country is struggling to pay contractors who are laboring to build a football stadium in his honour, Mr Paul Biya returned to his Swiss Intercontinental Hotel last week and reportedly had a brain surgery in Geneva.

Herbert Schott, the former general manager of the Intercontinental Hotel wrote in his book L’Hôtelier published in 2007 that the 88-year-old President Biya’s loyalty to the 5-star Intercontinental hotel borders on obsession. Since his accession to the presidency until 2017, the estimated cost of his stays amounted to $ 65 million (FCFA 36 116 697 500).

To be sure, the man who has engineered the worst corruption machinery in Cameroon’s history spends $ 40 000 (FCFA 22 168 161) per night for the entire Biya delegation.

By Rita Akana with files from Africa Intelligence

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) needs to be restructured as part of the efforts to rebuild it and restore public confidence, the federation’s president Seidou Mbombo Njoya said on Tuesday.

“It’s important we adopt worthy statutes that will permit good functioning and organisation of FECAFOOT. We need an objective and neutral electoral code, a transparent disciplinary code, and a transparent financial mechanism,” Njoya said in the capital Yaounde at the start of an extraordinary general assembly of the federation.

“At the end of this general assembly, resolutions need to reflect a modern and dynamic FECAFOOT that will guarantee the development of our football far away from incessant conflict. We should write a new page of our federation,” he added.

FECAFOOT has been plagued by managerial, corrupt, and financial crises for several years and this needs to stop, sports officials said.

Njoya said the restructuring of the football governing body was fundamental as the Central African country prepares to host the Africa Cup of Nations next year.

Source: Xinhaunet

There has been intense speculation surrounding the future of Anguissa in the last period.

The reports in England suggested that Everton are linked with surprise move for Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

The 25-year-old has been subject to interest from various European clubs.

The Cameroon international joined Fulham from Marseille for a fee in the region of 24.85 million euros in August 2018. His contract expires in the summer of 2023.

The midfielder has provided three assists in 34 matches this term on all fronts.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has also left his mark at the international stage after netting three goals in 26 senior appearances for the Cameroon national team.

His performances have seen him become the target of many European clubs including Everton.

The report details that Carlo Ancelotti feels his midfield currently lacks some bite and that he could strengthen this summer.

Ancelotti is a firm fan of Fulham midfielder and Everton could make a move for the player if the financial aspect makes sense.

The Toffees are desperate to make an impact in the summer transfer window.

The Cameroon international will offer the Everton boss the freedom to be more flexible with his formations, tactics and team selections.

According to the report, “Everton are chasing Fulham midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for the summer market. Calciomercato reports Everton are lining up move for Zambo Anguissa. The Cameroon international has been ever-present for Scott Parker’s side this season, playing in 30 of their 34 Premier League games.”

If Everton can agree on a fee with Fulham, the deal should be easy to complete. Fulham are preparing to sell their midfielder should they receive right offer for him.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa ideal fit for Everton? If Anguissa is available for the right price, then he could be a clever acquisition for Everton.

The Premier League side need to add more depth to their midfield and the 25-year-old would be a good signing.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa has all the skillset required to be a success story at Everton. Therefore, it makes sense for Ancelotti to step up his attempts to bring the Cameroon midfielder to Everton.

It will be interesting to see if the Toffees can beat their rivals to the midfielder’s signature.

Source: eurofootballrumours.com

Former Cameroon international Alex Song has turned to the construction business to make extra money, according to reports on Wednesday.

Song is in the process of building a block of flats in his home country, having created and funded a construction company.

According to UK publication The Sun, Song already built a Canadian International School and College in Douala, in 2020.

Song confirmed the reports on his instagram page, saying “Nokay 17 Residence, number two.”

The 33-year-old defensive midfielder made 49 appearances for Cameroon from 2005 to 2014. In that time he played in the 2010 and 2014 Fifa World Cups. Song announced his retirement from international football in January 2015 at the age of 27, in a move to extend his club career.

His retirement may have been precipitated by his omission from the Cameroon squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations which was announced, in December 2014, a month before his retirement.

Song spent the majority of his career at English Premier League side Arsenal, making 133 appearances for The Gunners from 2006 to 2012. In that time he scored seven goals, and did not win any trophies.

Song signed for Spanish giants Barcelona in August 2012, on a five-year contract for a 15 million pound transfer fee. He would go on to make 39 appearances for Barcelona, and scoring one goal. With Barcelona, Song was part of the squad which won the 2012/2013 La Liga title.

Source: African News Agency (ANA)

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Meme Works, Canon Yaoundé, Cammark Bamenda, Manyu Tigers and the world of football are mourning the death of Ashu James, in many Anglophone Cameroon eyes the greatest player of all time, following an accident on his motorbike in Besongabang. He was 60.

Captain Ashu with Captain Kunde Emmanuel

Mbeng Ebot, one of his kinsmen who announced his passing on social media said that Nsok Manyi popularly known as “goal scorer” was a magical footballer who took PWD Kumba to the highest of the nation with his virtuoso performances.

When his death was announced, the Chairman of the Cameroonian community in Essen, Germany Ndakwa Martin Talli could not hold back his tears. “Part of our football childhood has died,” he said. “I thought he could never die,” he added.

Ashu James had an accident in Besongabang on Thursday the 29th of April 2021 at about 2:30 p.m and was rushed to the Mamfe Divisional Hospital where he breathed his last.

Le buteur (The goal scorer)

Le buteur leaves behind his wife and 6 children to mourn him.

By Oke Akombi Ayukepi Akap in Glasgow with files from Mamfe

Cameroon international Carlos Idriss Kameni appears set to join countryman Alex Song in Djibouti after reportedly signing for newly-crowned champions Arta Solar 7.

Following a two-year hiatus from football, which followed a spell with Turkish giants Fenerbahce, ex-Espanyol and Malaga shot-stopper Kameni appears set to return to the game after being announced as a new Arta Solar 7 player by countryman Song.

“Welcome to the Arta Solar family, my dad Carlos Kameni,” Song shared on his official Instagram account, alongside an image of himself and the veteran ‘keeper.

According to Marca, the 37-year-old has signed a two-year contract with Astra, who secured their first-ever domestic league title this season, and will join fellow ex-Cameroon stars Song and Dany Nounkeu on the club’s books.

Kameni, who won 73 caps for the Indomitable Lions, is expected to officially join the Djiboutian side ahead of next season where he will play a key role in helping the club navigate its maiden CAF Champions League campaign.

He is the latest high-profile player from the continent to make a return to African football in recent weeks after Nigeria captain Ahmed Musa signed for former club Kano Pillars on a short-term deal for the remainder of the season.

Kameni made his debut for the national team in 2001 and was part of the squads that famously won the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations and ended as runners-up to France in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Source: Kickoff

A salary row dating back several years involving two former coaches of the national team, Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert, could end up being extremely costly for the Cameroonian Football Federation.

In a case of abusive breach of contract, world football governing body FIFA has ordered the Francophone dominated Football federation FECAFOOT to pay 316,000 Euros (207283360 FCFA) to Clarence Seedorf, the former coach of the Indomitable Lions, whose dismissal it considered unfounded.

FIFA stated that the Cameroon Football Federation should pay the applicant within 30 days from the notification of the decision, the said sum of 316,000 Euros as compensation for breach of contract, plus 5% interest from 29 May 2020 until the date of actual payment.

The 45 year-old Clarence Seedorf as well as his deputy Patrick Kluivert, were dismissed from their positions as Cameroon coaches on 16 July 2016, after the Africa Cup of Nations fiasco in Egypt.

The ruling CPDM criminals running Cameroon Football Federation blamed Seedorf and his staff for what they painted as a “premature exit” from the Africa Cup of Nations after the Indomitable Lions were eliminated from the competition by Nigeria.

In August 2019, the Dutch technicians had filed a complaint with FIFA for “unfair dismissal” and were claiming 1.3 billion FCFA from FECAFOOT.

This is not the first time that the consortium of crime syndicates in Yaoundé has been ordered to pay compensation to a technician after an “abusive dismissal”.  The corrupt football men and women in French Cameroun have a well established reputation of separating from those they hire abroad through fraudulent contracts and kickbacks to compensating them afterwards.

By Cameroon Concord News and Africa Intelligence

Former Cameroon captain Stephane M’Bia has moved back to Chinese Super League club Wuhan FC after a one-year spell with Shanghai Shenhua.

“Welcome Mr. M’Bia back to the Wuhan Zall family, and we look forward to his finding back the feeling of playing with the familiar faces in the team,” Wuhan FC said in a statement on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old defender joined the Wuhan outfit from Toulouse FC in February of 2019.

He then joined Shanghai Shenhua the following year.

The 2021 campaign of the Chinese Super League will start on April 20.

Source: Xinhuanet

An administrative blunder by Fecafoot has prevented the Germany-based striker from joining the Indomitable Lions squad

Cameroon will be without Bayern Munich star Eric Choupo-Moting when they face Cape Verde and Rwanda in March’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 32-year-old striker was among the names pencilled in for the fixtures by coach Toni Conceicao, however, an administrative error has cost him a place in the squad.

According to German media outlet Bild, the former Paris Saint-Germain player never received any call-up as the Cameroonian Football Federation sent an invitation to the wrong email address.

As a result of this, the Indomitable Lions will be without Choupo-Moting when they square up against the Blue Sharks and the Wasps in their last two Group F fixtures.

Meanwhile, the striker’s father Camille has spoken to the media to defend his son, whom he claims was ready to play for the country.

“I was contacted by the association to find out what was going on. I contacted FC Bayern and they confirmed that they had not received the invitation,” he told Naja TV per Bavarianfootballworks.

“It looks like she sent it to the wrong email address instead. For me, that’s a lack of professionalism.

“When sending invitations, be sure to send them to the correct address. If that doesn’t happen, I don’t understand why it’s the club’s or Maxim’s fault.”

Conceicao’s men will travel to Praia’s Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde for Friday’s game against Cape Verde before welcoming Rwanda to Douala’s Japoma Stadium four days later.

Cameroon, who have already qualified for the biennial African football showpiece as hosts, are unbeaten in all four games played in their group so far, winning three and playing one draw to lead the log with ten points – six points ahead of closest challengers, Mozambique.

The Blue Sharks are third with four points from the same number of games, while the Wasps who sit at the base of the table with two points must win their remaining two games convincingly to stand a chance of qualifying for the competition.

The Indomitable Lions’ last Afcon outing in Egypt ended on a sour note after crashing out in the Round of 16 after bowing 3-2 to Nigeria at the Alexandria Stadium.

Source: Goal.com