Modeste M’Bami, the former Indomitable Lions midfielder is no more! The veteran Paris Saint Germaine and Olympic Marseille player died today of heart attack aged 40.

Modeste M’Bami who recorded 38 caps, 3 goals died in Le Havre, where he lived.

He had played for PSG (2003-2006) and OM (2006-2009).

Gold medalist at the Olympic Games in 2000 in Australia with the Indomitable Lions, M’Bami also won two French Cups with PSG (2004 and 2006).

After starting his career in Douala, Cameroon, the native of Yaoundé played in France with Sedan (2000-2003). Transferred to PSG, he imposed himself in the midfield, especially during the 2003-2004 season, which ended in second place under Vahid Halilhodzic. He then joined PSG rivals, Olympique de Marseille in the summer of 2006.

After a stint at Almeria, and a few seasons in more distant destinations (China, Saudi Arabia, Colombia), M’Bami ended his playing careerat Le Havre, in Ligue 2 (2014-2016).

By Chi Prudence Asong

Cameroon’s Under-17s face a race against time to field a team for regional African Cup of Nations qualifiers after more players failed age tests ordered by Samuel Eto’o, president of the country’s governing body, Fecafoot.

The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker’s insistence on using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) screening saw the squad ravaged at their training camp in Mbankomo, on the outskirt of Yaounde.

Of the initial 30-member group, 21 failed the tests.

But BBC Sport Africa now understands Cameroon have suffered a fresh setback as 11 new players also failed tests on Tuesday, with coach Jean Pierre Fiala struggling to find replacements.

Cameroon host Congo, Chad, DR Congo and Central African Republic for the Central African Football Federations’ Union (UNIFFAC) qualifiers between 12 and 24 January, with two teams progressing to April’s Under-17 Nations Cup in Algeria.

A Fecafoot statement said Eto’o gave “strict instructions” for the actions to be taken “in order to put an end to the tampering with civil status records which have, in the past, tarnished the image of Cameroon football.

“Fecafoot urges all actors, in particular educators, to ensure that the ages by category are respected.”

The fight against age cheats

Many of Africa’s international successes in junior tournaments have been clouded by allegations of the use of over-age players.

Football’s world governing body Fifa introduced MRI scans at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup, which took place in Nigeria.

The MRI works by scanning the wrist to study how advanced the bone structure is

In 2017, Fecafoot blocked 14 players from taking part in the Under-17 Afcon in Gabon after they failed the tests.

Eto’o promised to take action to combat the long-running problem when he was elected Fecafoot president in December 2021 and Simon Lyonga, a journalist with Cameroon’s national broadcaster CRTV, says the decision to weed out age cheats has been applauded by the public.

“Here in Cameroon, people are by and large pleased that Fecafoot actually seem to be doing something to try to stop the cheating,” Lyonga told BBC Sport Africa.

“It is important for the country to give chances to players of the right age.”

Cameroon have twice been continental champions at Under-17 level, in 2003 and 2019.

Source: BBC

Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana ended his career with the national team on Friday, one month after the 26-year-old player was sent home from the World Cup in a dispute with coach Rigobert Song.

The Inter Milan player posted a statement on his Twitter account saying “my story with the Cameroonian national team has come to an end.”

“Players come and go, names are fleeting, but Cameroon comes before any person or player,” Onana wrote, without citing reasons for his decision. “Cameroon remains eternal and so does my love for the national team.”

The last of Onana’s 34 international games was the 1-0 loss to Switzerland on Nov. 24 at the World Cup in Qatar.

Onana later released a statement referring to his disagreement with Song over team tactics that led to him being dropped for the next game, a 3-3 draw with Serbia.

“I have put all my efforts and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will on the other side,” Onana said then. “Some moments are difficult to assimilate.”

Song later said he needed all his players to “show discipline and respect.”

Cameroon went on to beat Brazil 1-0 in its final Group G game but did not advance to the round of 16.

Source: AP

Goalkeeper Andre Onana has aimed at his detractors following his controversial exit from Cameroon’s World Cup camp.

Onana was omitted from Cameroon’s starting XI for their 3-3 draw against Serbia and was eventually kicked out of camp for disciplinary reasons after falling out with coach Rigobert Song.

While the goalkeeper later defended himself saying he ‘put all efforts and energy into finding solutions,’ he has added more fuel to the incident with this cryptic message posted on social media on Thursday.

WHAT DID ONANA SAY? “In a world where lying is the most common thing, telling the truth makes you a revolutionary. But in the end, time will put everything in its place,” Onana posted on Twitter.

Onana featured in Cameroon’s opening game when they lost 1-0 to Switzerland before reserve goalkeeper Devis Epassy took his place as they fought from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Serbia and then pulled off a memorable 1-0 victory against Brazil.

Cameroon exited the tournament at the group stage but Epassy’s performance made sure Onana was not greatly missed, especially against Brazil, when he kept the Indomitable Lions in the game by pulling off six saves.

It is not known if Onana, who has 34 caps for Cameroon, will be recalled to the squad for future assignments after Song said he had to take a risk with Epassy in an effort to send a strong message to one of the Indomitable Lions’ star players.

Onana claimed he had tried to resolve the issue in an effort to remain part of the squad.

“I have put all my efforts and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will on the other side,” Onana said through a statement after leaving Qatar.

“Some moments are difficult to assimilate. I always behaved in a way to lead the team to success in a good manner,” he added.

Onana has linked up with the Inter Milan squad in their training camp in Malta.

Source: Goal.com

The man allegedly assaulted by the President of  Cameroon’s Football Association  Samuel Eto’o, has explained what transpired between himself and the football star that led to the violent altercation.

An Algerian YouTuber said Momouni, in a  video on Tuesday evening said he had asked Eto’o if he (Eto’o) bribed the referee that officiated the World Cup playoff between Cameroon and Algeria that saw Cameroon qualify for the 2022 tournament and the question infuriated him.

He said:  “I’m at the police station to file a complaint against Eto’o. He hit me and someone with him pushed me.  “I asked him how is Bakary Gassama (referee that took charge of African World Cup play off) and if he gave him a bribe. He then hit me and destroyed both my camera and mic.”

The YouTuber added that he has filed a complaint to the Qatari police on the assault.

The Cameroon FA president has been in the news recently for attacking a man outside a stadium in Qatar at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“I will take my rights here in Qatar as it is a state of law. He did hit me in the chest, in the face and on my elbow,” Momouni added.

Eto’o however apologised for his outburst on his Twitter page on Tuesday evening, saying the violent altercation did not match his personality.

Eto’o wrote:  “I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. I apologise to the public for this unfortunate incident.”

Algeria had filed a complaint over the performance of the referee in the qualifying play-off in Blida on March 28, in which Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi scored the winner with the last kick of the match.

Source: Sunnewsonline

Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi attributed Andre Onana’s suspension by Cameroon at the World Cup to a “misunderstanding”.

The 26-year-old Nerazzurri goalkeeper was dropped for his country’s second group game against Serbia, subsequently leaving Qatar before their final game against Brazil.

Onana issued a statement in the wake of his shock demotion, which Cameroon team officials put down to undisclosed “disciplinary reasons”.

Reports suggested Onana’s omission came after a disagreement with boss Rigobert Song over his playing style in the 1-0 loss against Switzerland, when he had the most touches outside the box by a goalkeeper ever recorded in a World Cup match (26).

Inzaghi has spoken to Onana since his departure and does not believe he has been affected by the situation.

“I’ve spoken to all the guys involved in the World Cup,” he said. “We have four who made it to the quarter-finals.

“Romelu Lukaku and Onana are out; they will arrive between Friday and Saturday and join the group. Physically they are all fine, we are expecting them.

“There was a misunderstanding that he [Onana] paid for, but I spoke to him and he is calm.

“I can talk about what happened at Inter. He’s a positive guy; when he had to be on the bench he stayed there, when he had to play he played.

“On Friday he’ll be in Appiano and will start working with us.”

Inzaghi also had his say on Lukaku, who endured a torrid time as Belgium crashed out in the group stage with a 0-0 draw against Croatia in their final game.

The Inter striker was brought on at half-time by Red Devils boss Roberto Martinez, but conspired to miss a host of wonderful chances to win the game for his side.

“Clearly he was disappointed,” Inzaghi added. “It’s a World Cup and he cares so much about his national team.

“He played 45 minutes and he had three chances. If you are getting the chances, a striker has to stay calm.”

Inter return to Serie A action on January 4 against Napoli, but have friendlies against Salzburg, Real Betis, Reggina and Sassuolo before then.

Source: Yahoo News

Samuel Eto’o – the Cameroon Football Association president – was filmed having his photo taken with fans following Brazil’s win over South Korea on Monday; the 41-year-old then appears to take exception to a comment made by one of the individuals before chasing them; there was then a physical altercation

Former Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has apologised for what he described as a “violent altercation” at the World Cup in Qatar on Monday night.

A video circulating on social media appears to show the 41-year-old kneeing a man in the head outside Stadium 974 in Doha.

In a statement, Eto’o, who is the Cameroon FA president, said he was provoked by a fan who was “probably” an Algeria supporter as part of an ongoing campaign of harassment following Cameroon’s qualifying win over Algeria in March.

“After the Brazil-South Korea match, I had a violent altercation with a person who was probably an Algerian supporter,” Eto’o wrote on his social media channels.

“I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. I apologise to the public for this unfortunate incident.”

The video initially appears to show Eto’o happy to pose for pictures with fans in the area outside the stadium, which staged the last-16 match between Brazil and South Korea on Monday.

However, he then seems to react to something and is initially restrained from attacking a man by those around him.

He breaks away from those individuals and appears to strike the man in the head with his knee.

The former Inter Milan and Chelsea striker has been a global ambassador for Qatar’s World Cup organising committee since 2019.

Algeria filed a complaint over the performance of the referee in the qualifying play-off in Blida, in which Cameroon’s Karl Toko Ekambi scored the winner with the last kick of the match.

Eto’o added: “I pledge to continue to resist the relentless provocation and daily harassment of some Algerian supporters.

“Indeed, since the Cameroon-Algeria match on 28 March in Blida, I have been the target of insults and allegations of cheating without any evidence.”

Sky Sports News has asked for comment from the Cameroon FA, FIFA and the Qatari authorities.

Eto’o, who retired from football in 2019, scored 56 goals in 118 caps for Cameroon and represented his country at four World Cups between 1998 and 2014.

Reported by Sky Sports News

As Cameroon gear up for their must-win tie against Brazil, the African nation will be hoping to emulate their head coach Rigobert Song in overcoming the odds.

Song will arguably go down as one of Cameroon’s brightest stars along with former teammate Samuel Eto’o. The former Liverpool defender has played in four World Cups as a player and is currently making an appearance at his fifth, in his role as Cameroon’s coach.

Known for his dreadlock and dyed blonde goatee, Song was appointed as Cameroon’s head coach in February earlier this year replacing Portuguese coach Toni Conceicao.

Song then overcame a stern test against Algeria, helping Cameroon book their place in at the 2022 World Cup in a winner take all showdown.

Overcoming a stroke

While Song is no stranger to overcoming serious pressure, his greatest achievement so far has to be his recovery following a stroke in 2016.

Song acknowledges to L’Equipe that it was his dog who ultimately saved his life.

“I was watching TV, but I felt very tired,” Song told L’Equipe

“I left the door open because I was expecting a visitor. If it had been closed, it was over because my family was in Paris. My dog must have felt something and started barking. Then the person who was waiting came and saw me lying on the floor.”

Biya’s intervention

Following the stroke, Song had trouble securing the required hospital attention he needed and thanks then-president Paul Biya and his family for their support.

“Without him [Biya] or his wife, I would not be here today. I cannot be grateful enough,” Song continued

“The president of Cameroon told my family that he would take care of everything and he flew me to Paris.”

The afterlife

In his comatose state Song says he had a series of visions that eventually helped him recover, including a meeting with his father who died when Rigobert was still a child.

“It was like a dream,” Song stated.

“I reunited with my ancestors. My father died when I was 9 years old, but I recognized him. He told me: ‘What are you doing here? You have to go back. ‘

“It happened to me with Alex Song’s father and my father’s older brother. By dint of listening to them, I started to fight. I had incredible strength! and I started screaming: Release me, release me!”

Song will be hoping to instill this level of resilience in his players when Cameroon take on Brazil on December 3. The African nation have only made the knockout stages once before during 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Source: Marca