Explosions were heard early Saturday after Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, an international athletic competition, kicked off in Buea, the chief city in the Southwest, according to police and eyewitnesses.

The blasts went off in three locations just a few minutes after the race began, Buea police said.

“We lined up along the road to watch the athletes as they were racing. The bomb exploded just along the road. There was smoke and the sound was loud,” Johnson Nfor, a witness, told  Chinese media house Xinhua by phone.

“Five athletes were in front of me. Just when I was about to overtake them, the bomb exploded and hit my leg,” Obamissang Dimitri, an athlete who was taking part in the race, told reporters in a hospital where he was rushed to after the injury.

Bomb blasts occur sporadically in Southern Cameroons where Ambazonia Restoration Forces are seeking to create an independent nation known as the Federal Republic of Ambazonia.

By Nelly Epupa with files                                                    

France centre-back Raphael Varane, a World Cup winner in 2018 and runner-up last year, announced Thursday his retirement from international duty at the age of 29.

“I’ve been thinking about it for several months and I decided it was the right time for me to retire from international football,” Varane wrote on Instagram.

The Manchester United defender made his France debut in 2013 and won 93 caps for Les Bleus. He had been in the running to take over as captain following the retirement of Hugo Lloris last month.

“To represent our magnificent country for a decade has been one of the greatest honours of my life. Each time I wore this special blue shirt I felt immense pride,” said Varane.

Varane’s decision to call time on his France career leaves Kylian Mbappe as the frontrunner for the captaincy, with Didier Deschamps’ side set to begin Euro 2024 qualifying at the end of March with a double-header against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland.

The former Real Madrid star played every minute of his country’s triumphant 2018 World Cup campaign as France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final.

He was one of five French players who also started the 2022 final defeat by Argentina on penalties, recovering from a leg injury that ruled him out of the start of the tournament.

“I’ll definitely miss these moments with you, but the time has come for the new generation to take over,” he said, thanking Deschamps and his coaching staff as well as the supporters.

“We have a group of talented young players who are ready to step up and who deserve their chance.”

Deschamps paid tribute to Varane and praised him for the leadership qualities he had brought to the team throughout his time with France.

“I cannot turn this page without some emotion, given the bonds we have formed,” said Deschamps, who gave Varane his international debut in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Georgia.

“I respect his decision even if it may seem a bit unfortunate given everything he was able to do with the national team through to the World Cup, during which he behaved like the leader we know he is from start to finish.”

Source: AFP

Besiktas have swooped to sign Vincent Aboubakar after his release from Al Nassr following Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival,

Aboubakar’s contract was terminated by the Saudi Arabian club to make way for Ronaldo, as the Saudi League rules state that clubs can only register up to eight foreign players per squad.

The arrival of Aboubakar is a replacement for Wout Weghorst, who cut short his loan in Turkey and joined Manchester United from Burnley.

Aboubakar is embarking on his third tenure with Besiktas, having already had two spells over the past five years.

He spearheaded the club to two Super Lig titles with an impressive 35 goals and nine assists in 67 matches.

The forward spent two seasons with Al-Nassr, scoring 13 goals in 39 games.

He impressed at the World Cup in Qatar, scoring one of the goals of the tournament and a winner against Brazil.

Source: Dailymail

Premier League (PL) club, Manchester United, have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Cameroon captain, Vincent Aboubakar on loan for the remainder of the 2022/2023 season from Saudi Arabian outfit, Al-Nassr.

The Red Devils are currently in the winter transfer market for a new forward after terminating Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract after the just concluded World Cup in Qatar.

The Portugal captain was later signed by Al-Nassr, thereby linking up with Aboubakar, who currently plies his trade with the Saudi-Arabia club. 

Aboubakar since joining the club 18 months ago has netted 13 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions for Al-Nassr this includes 4 goals from the 12 matches he has so far played this season.

Man United, after making inquiries, from the Middle East side, have been told that Aboubakar will be available and that the club is willing to let the 30-year-old leave on loan.

Al-Nassr was disposed to the deal because they have exceeded the limit for non-Saudi Arabian players in their first-team squad following the arrival of Ronaldo and they cannot register the five-time Ballon d’Or winner until one of their 7 foreign players leaves the club.

According to Saudi Arabian news outlet OKAZ, Man United and Turkish giants, Fenerbahce have an agreement in place to take Aboubakar on loan this January, with the Cameroonian expected to favour a move to the Premier League.

Aboubakar’s potential temporary move to Old Trafford would be a perfect deal for both Man United and Al-Nassr, as it will mean the former would have strengthened Erik ten Hag’s options in the attack, while the latter will also be able to officially register Ronaldo.

Source: The Nicheng

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