Cameroon’s top-flight football championship and the lower league MTN Elites 2 have all been suspended indefinitely by the chief executive Retired General Pierre Semengue.  A press release made public by the Secretary General Madam Pauline Therese Manguele cited the lack of funding as one of the key reasons for the decision to suspend the championship.

Our chief football reporter revealed that the championship will not start again without a new framework agreed by all in the football business and members of the ruling CPDM crime syndicate.  The regime in Yaoundé is yet to open up discussions with the leadership of the Confederation of African Football, CAF which is said to be shocked by the happenings in Cameroon.

The Biya Francophone regime had “fought to clean up” Cameroon football for decades but events have now caught up with them as the crisis hit nation prepares to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon government spokesman and minister of communication, Issa Tchiroma is expected to insist that the national team and the hosting of the 2019 AFCON would not be affected. The league suspension is the latest factor signaling the end of the Biya era. It is vital to include in this report that the league’s main sponsor, MTN Cameroun is struggling financially ever since the inception of the Ambazonian resistance.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde

EX-RANGERS star Jean-Alain Boumsong has been given the task of lifting Cameroon’s national team out of the doldrums.

The former Gers stopper was born in the country although later won 27 caps for France.

Cameroon’s FA has launched a major shakeup following the Indomitable Lions’ failure to qualify for the World Cup. The association – Fecafoot – has now appointed 38-year-old Boumsong head of a committee charged with reforming the national team set-up.

Gers signed the defender on a free transfer from Auxerre in 200. And his impressive form prompted then-Newcastle boss Graeme Souness to pay a hefty £8million for him in January 2005.

Boumsong played 24 times for Rangers, scoring twice, and collected a medal for his part in the Ibrox club’s league title that season. However he was less successful on Tyneside, and moved on to Juventus in 2006 after 49 Toon appearances.

He went on to play for Lyon and Greek side Panathinaikos before retiring. Fecafoot said in a statement: “The head of our standards committee has decided to name Jean-Alain Boumsong the president of the commission charged with reform of the national team’s coaching.

“The commission will meet when the president says, and will give Fecafoot all the advice it thinks useful about reforming the national team set-up.”

Source: Scottish Sun

Alexandre Belinga may only be holding the reins of the Cameroon national side on an interim basis, but this wise old head of the national game appears keen to reshape the squad as the 2019 African Cup of Nations approaches.

The Central African nation are hosting the event and will also enter as holders after pipping Egypt to the continental crown in Gabon in 2017.

However, a disappointing Confederations Cup campaign, failure to reach the World Cup, and the dismissal of AFCON-winning coach Hugo Broos has plunged the nation into disarray, only a year from their hosting Africa’s footballing showpiece.

The 56-year-old Belinga, who represented Tonnerre Yaounde as a player and was part of the national team’s staff under both Volker Finke and Broos, was a sensible choice for interim coach considering his extensive experience with Cameroonian football,

However, the new man doesn’t appear happy just to keep the Lions ticking over.

Instead, even though FECAFOOT are actively seeking his replacement, he appears keen to reshape this Lions squad, at least if his squad list for their upcoming friendly against Burkina Faso is anything to go by.

For his first squad announcement, ahead of the friendly against Kuwait in March, Belinga sought to bring some of the players exiled during Broos’s tenure back into the fold.

Duly, Carlos Kameni, Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and Allan Nyom were all handed recalls, with Vincent Aboubakar and Christian Bassogog (twice) scoring in a 3-1 victory.

However, the Kuwait game wasn’t merely an opportunity to welcome some familiar old faces back to the fold.

Belinga also handed a debut to 25-year-old Strasbourg striker Stephane Bahoken – a former France U-20 international – with the striker arriving as the new figurehead of what looks set to be a significant recruitment drive ahead of the AFCON.

In the interim coach’s latest squad, ahead of the May 27 friendly against Burkina Faso in Paris, there are more returnees and a few new faces who have an ideal opportunity to make a big impression before next summer’s jamboree.

Edgar Salli is the most high-profile returnee.

He’s never been the most glamorous player, admired more for his shuttling runs and his energy rather than his flair or output in the final third, but his versatility and dynamism make him a valuable addition to the squad.

The diminutive wideman was part of the AFCON-winning squad, and also represented Cameroon at the 2014 World Cup, and he deserves his recall after a series of fine displays as Nurnberg secured Bundesliga promotion.

Ambroise Oyongo also makes his return and ought to slot straight back into the starting XI ahead of the challenges to come.

The full-back wasn’t discarded by Broos, but hasn’t featured for the national side since before the Confederations Cup, when he was laid out with a knee injury that saw him sidelined for the rest of 2017.

He nonetheless secured a January move to Montpellier, and has steadily continued his rehabilitation in France, making three Ligue 1 outings in May.

The 26-year-old has the potential to be one of Africa’s best lateral defenders, and his return represents a major boost for the Lions.

Should Belinga opt to move Oyongo over to the right, he would leave a place for Fabrice Gael Ngah, a revelation with CAF Champions League surprise package Difaa El Jadida, on the left.

The youngster was handed his first call-up to the senior squad by the interim boss against Kuwait, and appears primed for an AFCON berth.

Elsewhere, Bahoken has kept his spot, and joins an attacking unit that contains Karl Toko Ekambi, who received the Marc Vivien Foe Prix for the best African player in Ligue 1 last week.

While Toko Ekambi has been with the national side since 2015, and was an AFCON winner, there’s a sense that he hasn’t truly shown his best form for the Lions, averaging just over a goal every 10 games since making his debut!

He’s been a player transformed for Angers this season, however, contributing six assists and netting 17 goals (40% of the club’s total) as they steered clear of the dropzone.

Alongside Bassogog, Aboubakar, captain Benjamin Moukandjo and another familiar face, Fabrice Olinga, Toko Ekambi is part of an offensive unit that has the quality to fire Cameroon to another African title next year.

Finally, Belinga has opted to draft in another new face, introducing a player who has the talent to be a big asset in the heart of the park.

Pierre Kunde Malong has represented the Lions at U-18 and U-23 level, but only now, after an encouraging season on loan at Granada from Atletico Madrid, is he getting his opportunity with the senior side.

The 22-year-old has impressed in the Segunda Division during a testing campaign, scoring five in 36 outings including an outstanding double against Leonesa in April.

He particularly impressed with Extremadura during the 2016-17 campaign, with his aggression helping him thrive in a destructive midfield role before netting 11 after being pushed higher up the park and being allowed to express himself.

While Kunde may take time to adapt to the international arena, there’s a realistic hope that he could be the long-term successor to ageing captain Sebastien Siani (31) and represents further competition for Georges Mandjeck, Arnaud Djoum, Frank Zambo Anguissa and Frank Boya.

Belinga may not be around long enough to truly enjoy the fruits of this Indomitable Lions shakeup, but if Cameroon do go on to enjoy success and put their misery behind them next summer, then one suspects the new and returning faces being introduced now will play a big part in their title defence.

Source: ESPN

The vacant Cameroon head coach’s job has been advertised by the Normalisation Committee running Cameroon’s football federation (Fecafoot).

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations champions are seeking to fill the role made vacant when Hugo Broos departed at the end of his contract last month.

Fecafoot wants a top foreign or local coach who has a “good record and has won national or international titles as a player, club coach or national coach.”

They are also seeking a candidate “with good character and in good health” who also has a ‘good knowledge of African football.”

But in an apparent bid to give their hunt significant impetus, Fecafoot has made it clear that the incoming coach must live in the country.

Those who believe they fit the bill are invited to submit their applications at the Fecafoot secretariat in Yaounde or via email before the 24 March deadline.

A shortlist of three candidates will be finalised by an appointed commission, before a successful coach and assistants will be announced.

Five-time African champions Cameroon have already announced that Alexandre Belinga will take interim charge while the search continues for a long-term successor to Broos, who has since been appointed as sporting director at Belgian top side Oostende.

The 65-year-old former Belgian international led the Indomitable Lions to a surprise triumph in the tournament in Gabon at the start of last year.

However, a poor performance at the Confederation Cup in Russia in mid-year followed by failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup turned some elements of public opinion against the Belgian.

Whoever comes in will have only eight months to work with the team before the 2019 Nations Cup tournament starts on home soil.

Fecafoot say that candidates seeking to fill the vacant post must satisfy the following conditions (translated from French):

• Holds a national or foreign trainer diploma obtained as a result of coaching (Federal License A, CAF License, UEFA License, Professional License or any other equivalent recognised diploma);
• Must be of good character.
• Must be physically fit and in obvious good health.
• Must have a good experience at top professional clubs or national team.
• Must have a good record (national or international titles won as a player or club coach or national coach.)
• A good knowledge of African football.
• Be willing to reside permanently in Cameroon during the duration of the contract.
• Have a good knowledge of computer tools (Word, Powerpoint, Excel software etc.)
• Have a great capacity for adaptation and ability to work in a team.
• Have a perfect command of the French or English language.
• Have a good contact in the professional football community.

Culled from the BBC

Cameroon international Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting says he is enjoying life in English football despite the recent slump in form by his Stoke City side.

Choupo-Moting, 28, joined the Potters in the summer from German Bundesliga team Schalke, and was on the scoresheet in a morale-boosting 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday which ended a run of three straight defeats.

“I am doing good, I am feeling good. It’s a great championship, great competition but a tough league, every game is tough,” said Choupo-Moting.

He has so far been used as both a striker and winger in Mark Hughes’ side and admits English football can be demanding.

“Physically you have to be 100% to play in the Premier League,” Choupo-Moting told BBC Sport.

The former Hamburg, Mainz and Schalke player announced his arrival in the league with a brace against Manchester United in only his second game for Stoke.

He has scored four league goals but says that conversion rate does not truly reflect his contribution to his team.

“This game is not only about goals,” he said.

“I try my best, I like the league, I play a lot and that’s the most important thing because I came here to play.”

Choupo-Moting says some former team-mates from his time in Germany – such as Manchester City’s Leroy Sane and Joel Matip of Liverpool – have also helped him settle in England.

“The football world is very small. I contacted all the guys I played with in Germany and it’s nice to see each other here in England,” said the Cameroonian.

Strugglers Stoke are 14th in the Premier League – just three points above the relegation zone, having lost 10 of their 19 league matches this season.

They play Huddersfield away on Boxing Day before a home game against Chelsea on 30 December.

Choupo-Moting says the Stoke players need to remain united to produce positive results.

“We have to keep working as a team and I will also try and score more goals,” he added.

Source: BBC

The Francophone Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mpkatt has said that La Republique du Cameroun is on the same wavelength as FIFA and that the country is going ahead with preparations for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Minister made the statement during a press briefing today Friday in the conference room of the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaoundé, following the establishment of a new standardisation committee at FECAFOOT.

“Cameroon takes note and is ready to cooperate with FIFA and CAF for a return to serenity in Cameroonian football,” noted the Francophone Minister. He added that “Our country is ready to cooperate fully with FIFA and CAF for the harmonious implementation of this process.”

The controversial CPDM official however opined that FECAFOOT will continue to carry out its activities. “The Standardization Committee does not mean the suspension of activities within FECAFOOT. The decision concerns the election of the Executive Board. FECAFOOT continues to carry out its activities.”

By Fru James
Cameroon Concord News
MAY 15:58

The Italian Company, Piccini that won the contract for the construction of the sixty thousand-seat capacity Stadium in Olembe-Yaounde has reassured authorities that the football infrastructure will be ready by October 2018. The officials of the Italian Company, Piccini and the Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, made the declaration on Monday 17th July 2017 during a press briefing at the Italian Embassy in Yaoundé.

The Italian Ambassador to Cameroon, Samuela Isopi and the Architect of the structure, Eloy Suarez elaborately detailed how the company intends to proceed. In the three hour briefing, Her Excellency Samuela Isopi dispelled rumors and reports that the company charged with the construction of the football facility were not competent to do the job.

The Italian Ambassador undertook to organize a regular briefing to update the press on the progress of work. The Architect, Eloy Suarez stated emphatically that the structure will be delivered in eighteen months. Mr. Suarez said most of the work in the site will consist of assembling the pre-cast equipment; over 60 per cent of parts of the building will be produced in Italy and transported to Cameroon through the Kribi port in order to gain time.

He explained that the facility will be constructed using the latest technology and state of art equipment in conformity with FIFA standards. The Project Director, Marc Debandt for his part stated that work will accelerate in the days ahead with the complete arrival of material from Italy.

The Chargé de Mission, Gabriel Ngaha said the FCFA 160 billion allotted for the construction has been made available, there are consequently no issues relative to late payments as reported by some press organs and the social media. During the briefing, the press learnt more about the Italian company Piccini that has been entrusted with the Paul Biya Omnisport Staduim at Olembe.

It is a company with a thirty year experience that has realized outstanding projects including the construction of the Juventus Stadium in Italy, one of the best in the world, the construction of the Olympic Stadium in Anthens, the Olympic Stadium in Rome that was used for the 1990 World Cup and many more.

Source: CRTV

Jean Armel Kana-Biyik has said that in Africa, footballers need to give bribes to play for their respective national teams. He was reacting to his non-participation with the Lions of Cameroon in the FIFA 2014 World Cup that was held in Brazil.

Guest on a television show Le Vestiaire on Tuesday on the SFR chain, the Cameroonian defender made disturbing revelations about the process of selection of players deep within the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

“I have always said, I will never be afraid to say it: we charge footballers for places within the national selection, not only in my country, but in Africa. And when I talk about bribes, I know that at the last moment my place was sold to another footballer … two weeks before the world …, “said the Kayserispor player in Turkey.

Source: Cameroon Info.Net

The Cameroon National Football Academy, ANAFOOT will soon take off in earnest following the installation of the pioneer executive management board. Issa Hayatou, Carl Enow Ngatchu and Jules Mejime were installed into as the Board chair, Director General and Deputy Director General respectively.

The installation ritual was performed by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mpkatt at the Yaoundé Multi-purpose Sports Complex. Extending warm handshakes to the three man team, the Minister advised them to immediately get to work.

They are expected to put begin the management of an academy that was created by the Head of State in 2010 to promote and professionalize football.

Source: CRTV

The general manager of Afrik 2 Radio, Polycarpe Essomba has announced that he will sue the Biya regime following a violent act perpetrated against one of his collaborators, Bertrand Mvondo. According to the management of the Yaounde based radio station, Bertrand Mvondo, a sports columnist “was the object of a wild aggression on the afternoon of May 26, 2017.

The journalist was attacked by dozen of soldiers as he was covering a Division 2 football encounter at the Yaoundé Military Stadium. Cameroon Concord News learnt that he took pictures when an altercation involving a civilian, a club president and a soldier broke out and was spotted by another soldier who summoned and ordered him to destroy the said images.

The reporter objected to these injunctions which eventually prompted the soldier to call on his colleagues in reinforcement. Bertrand Mvondo was seriously beaten and forcefully dragged to the ground and taken to a nearby army camp with life threatening injuries. We of this publication aggressively condemn the aggression and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Afrik 2 Radio and its collaborator.

By Rita Akana

Cameroon Concord News