Cameroon’s football legend Samuel Eto’o has been accused of making threats and match-fixing, with the Barcelona legend’s file sent for investigation to the FIFA Ethics Committee.

Former Barça striker and current President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, has been accused of match-fixing and paying someone to make threats.

According to a report by The Athletic, Samuel Eto’o is facing serious allegations outlined in a file sent to FIFA’s Ethics Committee. The current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation is accused of match-fixing, spreading false information, making threats, inciting violence, and ‘abuse of power.’

Source: India Today

Cameroon Coach Rigobert Song has attributed his team’s defeat to Super Eagles to the inexperience of his players.

The Indomitable Lions suffered a 2-0 loss to Super Eagles in the round of 16 Africa Cup of Nations clash on Saturday at the Stade , with Ademola Lookman scoring both goals.

Speaking after the game, Song added that he is building a next generation of stars for the Indomitable Lions, stressing that they would be ready in two years.

“We faced a Nigerian team that was well organized. At a time, we were in the game but later it became difficult for us. My players lacked experience to play against Nigeria. We played with young players and my players are not capable to play to some certain level. I’m rebuilding and it takes lots of time to rebuild a team. I think by two or three years they would be better,” Song said

“My players played with fear. When you face a team like Nigeria, it can disturb you. We tried our best but our best was not enough. Let us acknowledged that they have done their best but they lack experience to face a team like Nigeria.”

The former Cameroon captain said he will learn from his side’s defeat to Nigeria.

“This is a game that you learn every day. When you are a player and manager, it is a very different thing. I’m still learning and I am open to criticism but constructing criticism.”

Source: The Nation

Cameroon’s biggest star, Andre Onana, is already becoming a distraction to the Indomitable Lions less than one week into the Cote 20243 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Manchester United goalkeeper opted to stay and play with the Red Devils against Tottenham at the weekend instead of joining Rigobert Song’s team as was the case with other members of the squad ahead of their opening game against Guinea. And then there was the anxiety caused by news of the issues his chartered plane had with Ivoirian authorities, which kept everybody, including Cameroon team officials, scampering for a positive resolution of matters.

After that, Onana got angry with Cameroonian officials when he realised that he would not be used in the game against Guinea. He had to be restrained by Senegal legend, El Hadji Diouf, when he became agitated with Song for keeping him out of the team. He was supposedly heard shouting: “If I wasn’t going to play or make the team, then why did I come here on a private jet?”

According to reports, poor weather conditions meant he was unable to land in Yamoussoukro – where Cameroon were playing on Monday – and had to divert to Abidjan.

Onana was then forced to drive the final 150 miles and eventually arrived three hours before kickoff and knew that he wouldn’t be starting the game but was shocked to see that Devis Epassy and Simon Ngapandouetnbu had been named ahead of him on the bench.

Song has had a fractured relationship with Onana in the past and the 27-year-old only returned to the international scene towards the end of last year after he retired in response to being sent home from the World Cup early.

Song meanwhile played down the significance of Onana’s absence, saying: “‘It’s logical, he arrived at 4 o’clock in the morning. How do you want him to play?”Their opening game saw them held to a 1-1 draw against Guinea.

Source: The Guardian.ng

After a grueling effort to reach the Africa Cup of Nations on time, Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana failed to make the Cameroon squad for the five-time champions’ opening game.

Onana was omitted from Coach Rigobert Song’s squad for the 1-1 draw against Guinea on Monday, despite the player’s rush from England to reach the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on time.

“It’s logical. He arrived at 4 o’clock in the morning. How do you want him to play?” Song said after the game. The coach added: “He’s part of the group.”

Onana had played for United on Sunday, in a 2-2 draw with visiting Tottenham in the Premier League, then flew to Abidjan in Ivory Coast. From there the player had reported difficulties getting another flight to Yamoussoukro, forcing him to make the journey by road instead.

Such a trip would normally take 2½ hours, but heavy traffic in Abidjan and traffic restrictions imposed by police for Africa Cup security measures mean most journeys during the tournament face delays.

Onana quit the national team after he was sent home from the 2022 World Cup following a dispute with Song, but returned after apparently winning back the coach’s favor.

Source: AP

Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, expressed optimism on Sunday, hoping that the Indomitable Lions would create history once again, just as they did in 1984 when they clinched their maiden Nations Cup title in Cote d’Ivoire.

Cameroon will kick off their Nations Cup campaign on Monday, facing Guinea in the Group C opener, which also features Gambia and Senegal.

“There is a historical connection between Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire,” Song told the pre-match news conference on Sunday.

“We were heroes in 1984, and I believe we should honor that history.”

“We are like a family. We won our first title here, and that’s why we visited the grave of the first president of Cote d’Ivoire upon our arrival.”

“Our aim is to progress far in the competition, and why not recreate history by achieving what we did in 1984? We didn’t come here just to participate.”

Regarding the match against Guinea, Song emphasized the significance of the opening games and acknowledged that his team faces a tough opponent.

“The initial matches in such competitions hold great importance,” he added.

“We will be prepared. All participating teams have specific goals.”

“Guinea is a formidable team, and we are well aware of who we will be facing. We will give our all.”

The Cameroon boss expressed his disappointment over the absence of striker Vincent Aboubakar, but assured that all other players are ready for the game.

“Aboubakar’s absence is a loss because he is a leader and has demonstrated his abilities over the years. However, the remaining players are prepared,” he concluded.

Source: ahram online

The 2024 Africa Cup of Nations is being staged in the west African country of Ivory Coast, and no team has been more successful in the region than Cameroon.

They won the first of five titles in 1984 when Ivory Coast previously hosted the biennial African football showpiece.

Among the winning team was forward Roger Milla, who went on to achieve fame at the 1990 World Cup when the Indomitable Lions became the first quarter-finalists from Africa.

Further Cup of Nations triumphs for the central African country in the west of the continent came in Nigeria in 2000 and in Mali two years later.

No other country has won the tournament three times in west Africa — Egypt and Ghana succeeded twice each and Nigeria and Ivory Coast once each.

The other Cameroonian successes were in Morocco in 1988, and in the neighbouring central African nation of Gabon seven years ago.

With Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Besiktas forward Vincent Aboubakar in the squad, Cameroon are among the 2024 title favourites.

Aboubakar was the leading scorer at the 2022 finals in his homeland. He bagged eight goals, one less than record-holder Ndaye Mulamba netted for the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1974.

Staging a Cup of Nations is no guarantee that a country from the host region will emerge victorious.

North Africa has fared best with six victories from 11 tournaments followed by west Africa (4/9), central and east Africa (2/5 each) and southern Africa (1/3).

The 2024 edition kicks off on Saturday with a Group A clash between two-time champions Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, whose three previous appearances failed to deliver a single victory.

On Sunday, Nigeria tackle Equatorial Guinea in the other Group A fixture, then record seven-time champions Egypt face Mozambique and Ghana meet Cape Verde in Group B.

Source: AFP

Martin Hongla will not be travelling with Cameroon for the AFCON 2023 (January 13-February 11, 2024). The defensive midfielder has not been called up by Rigobert Song.

Some in the country argued that this was a sanction, as the player would be guilty of stealing goods belonging to his teammates during the March 2023 gathering. The Indomitable Lions coach denied this.

“He never stole, there’s no problem. He’s a player I’ve known since the U23s, he’s like my son. Martin Hongla has never stolen, it’s simply a choice on my part not to call him up,” Rigobert Song insisted in comments relayed by So Foot.

Source: Sportsnewsafrica

Head coach of the Cameroon national team, Rigobert Song has named a provisional squad of 27 players likely to represent the Indomitable Lions during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast 2023.

The five-time champions, who last won it in 2017 are drawn in Group C alongside Senegal, Gambia and Guinea.

The provisional squad:

GOALKEEPERS: André Onana, Epassy quote, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Fabrice Ondoa

DEFENDERS: Jean-Charles Castelletto, Harold Moukoudi, Oumar Gonzalez, Darlin Yongwa, Nouhou Tolo, Christopher Wooh, Enzo Tchato, Junior Tchamadeu, Malcolm Bokele

MIDFIELDERS: Yvan Neyou, Olivier Kemen, Olivier Ntcham, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Wilfried Nathan Douala, Benjamin Elliot Njongue

FORWARDS: Karl Toko-Ekambi, George-Kevin Nkoudou, Vincent Aboubakar, Faris Pemi Moumbagna, François-Régis Mughe, Frank Magri, Leonel Ateba, Clinton Njié

All selections are provisional until the final list of 24 players is announced by CAF after the submission deadline on Wednesday, 03 January.

Source: CAFonline

Former Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o is reportedly working on luring Yann Bisseck to Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations.

The 42-year-old played for the Nerazzurri between 2009 and 2011, forming a deadly attacking partnership with Diego Milito. He won the historic treble during his maiden campaign at Appiano Gentile.

Today, the Barcelona legend serves as the head of the Cameroonian Football Federation.

Therefore, the retired striker will be looking to bolster his national team’s ranks ahead of the upcoming African Cup of Nations.

AFCON 2023 will take place in the Ivory Coast between January 13th and February 11th.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport via FcInterNews24, Eto’o has contacted Bisseck asking him to join the Indomitable Lions.

The former Nerazzurri star even called the club to inquire about the player’s qualities.

The 23-year-old was born in Koln and has been representing the German national team through various age ranks. He currently plays for Germany U21.

But since he has yet to make his senior debut, he can still change his international allegiance and join his country of origin.

Source: sempreinter