Sports

24, February 2025

Buea: Usheni Hassan wins 30th Mount Cameroon Race of Hope ⁰

Usheni Hassan, 29, from Kumbo in the Northwest Region, won the 30th edition of Mount Cameroon Race of Hope on Saturday, February 22, 2025.

Hassan completed the over 4,000-meter altitude challenge in 4 hours and 40 minutes. He first competed in the race in 2019, describing his initial performance as “positive,” and reached the top podium spot six years later.

Ali Mohamadou finished second in 4 hours and 42 minutes, and Abdou Amadou took third place in 4 hours and 45 minutes. The winners received prizes of 10 million, 7 million, and 5 million CFA francs, respectively.

In the women’s category, Lisette Ngalim, also from Kumbo, won the gold medal, completing the course in 5 hours and 24 minutes. Ngalim returns to the top podium spot after victories in 2017 and 2024. Njeyang Sydony Bonwi finished second, and Tumi Macrina Yinyuy took third place.

Source: Business in Cameroon

21, February 2025

Champions League: PSG draws to play Liverpool, Real Madrid Vs Atletico Madrid ⁰

Liverpool finished first in the 36-team league phase of the competition to qualify directly for this stage, while PSG had to come through a two-legged play-off tie in which they crushed fellow French side Brest 10-0 on aggregate.

The first leg will take place at the Parc des Princes in Paris on March 4 or 5, with the return at Anfield a week later.

The clubs last met in the Champions League in the group stage in 2018/19, when PSG won 2-1 at home after Liverpool triumphed 3-2 in England.

In another eye-catching tie, reigning champions Real Madrid will play city rivals Atletico Madrid in a repeat of the finals of 2014 and 2016, both of which were won by Los Blancos.

Bayern Munich will take on German rivals Bayer Leverkusen, while Arsenal face PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan take on Feyenoord, who are fresh from knocking out AC Milan in the play-offs.

Barcelona will face Benfica, who they defeated 5-4 away in Lisbon in the league phase last month.

Aston Villa will face Club Brugge, having already lost away to the Belgians in the league phase.

Last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund will take on French side Lille.

Source: AFP

20, February 2025

Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales convicted of sexual assault over forced kiss ⁰

A Spanish court on Thursday convicted former football chief Luis Rubiales of sexual assault over the forced kiss he gave star forward Jenni Hermoso and fined him € 10,800 ($11,300).

But the court acquitted him and the three other accused of the charge of coercion in the case.

Prosecutors had sought a prison term of two-and-a-half years for Rubiales – one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion – for having allegedly pressured the player to downplay the incident.

Rubiales was accused of sexual assault for kissing Hermoso in 2023 following Spain’s triumph in the women’s World Cup in Australia, as well as coercion for allegedly trying to convince her to downplay the incident afterwards.

Rubiales will appeal his conviction for sexual assault over the forced kiss, his lawyer Olga Tubau Martinez said Thursday.

“Mr. Rubiales has decided to appeal the ruling,” she told AFP after the verdict in the trial.

Global outcry

The global outcry over the kiss forced Rubiales to resign in disgrace and thrust the spotlight on the prevalence of macho culture and sexism in sport.

Hermoso, 34, said on the opening day of the trial on February 3 she felt “disrespected” after a non-consensual kiss that “should not happen in any social or work setting”.

But Rubiales, 47, told the court on Tuesday he was “totally sure” Hermoso consented to the kiss as she went up to receive her winner’s medal, which was broadcast live around the world, and denied putting pressure on her after the incident.

He conceded he “made a mistake” on the podium, saying he should have “been in a more institutional role”, but denied any offence had been committed.

Rubiales’ stance on the stand contrasted with the defiance he displayed when the scandal broke.

During an emergency federation meeting in August 2023, he minimised the importance of the kiss and defied calls for his resignation, railing against “false feminism”.

Rubiales resigned in September that year after FIFA suspended him and Spanish prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged sexual assault. He had been federation chief since 2018.

Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the Spain women’s team who now plays for Mexican club Tigres, was not called up to the national squad immediately after the World Cup.

The new coach Montse Tome said she wanted to protect the player and denied omitting her from the squad was a “punishment”.

(Source: AFP)

19, February 2025

Football: marvellous Mbappe sends Man City crashing out of Europe ⁰

Manchester City’s Champions League campaign came to a tame conclusion at the Bernabeu as Kylian Mbappe’s brilliant hat-trick inspired holders Real Madrid to a comfortable victory and place in the last 16.

Pep Guardiola’s side were attempting to reverse a 3-2 deficit from the play-off first leg but this contest was effectively over after four minutes when Mbappe’s precise lob from Raul Asencio’s pass increased their advantage.

City, with Erling Haaland only fit enough for the bench, saw their plight worsen moments after Mbappe’s opener when they lost defender John Stones to injury.

And City’s earliest Champions League exit since they failed to get out of the group in 2012-13 edged closer when Mbappe showed brilliant close control to wrong-foot Josko Gvardiol before beating Ederson after 33 minutes.

The France forward’s third came just after the hour with a low shot as City subsided, barely laying a glove on Real all night as they were outclassed.

City pulled a goal back when Nico Gonzalez turned in his first goal for the club after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick hit the bar, but it was no consolation on a desperate night for the reigning Premier League champions.

It was a chastening experience for Guardiola, whose discomfort was particularly relished by Real’s fans because of his old Barcelona allegiances, as he faces a mammoth task to rebuild and restore City to Europe’s top table.

Source: BBC

10, February 2025

Southern Cameroons Crisis: football match abandoned in Bamenda after gunfire ⁰

A football match in Cameroon’s first division had to be abandoned on Sunday after gunmen opened fire near the stadium in Bamenda, the chief city in the North West region, according to local police and eyewitnesses.

Players ran off the pitch and fans dived for cover when shots rang out near the end of the first half of the game between PWD Bamenda and Fauve Azur forcing officials to suspend the game, local police told reporters.

“The match was going on when we suddenly heard several gunshots. It was so terrifying. There was total confusion at the stadium and people were running in all directions,” James Nfor who was at the stadium said.

Police said that no one was harmed after the timely intervention of security forces forced the gunmen to flee.

It was not immediately clear who fired the gun, but local authorities said separatist fighters who have been operating in the region were responsible.

An armed separatist conflict has been going in Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest since 2017. Separatists say they want to create an independent nation in the regions.

Source: Xinhuanet

6, February 2025

Cameroon football legend Pascal Owona dies aged 84 ⁰

Former TKC Yaoundé player who captain the Indomitable Lions to their first appearance at an African Cup of Nations in 1970 in Khartoum, Sudan has died aged 84.

Pascal Owona passed away on 5 February 2025 in Paris, France following an undisclosed illness. He was one of the most loved players in the history of Cameroonian football.

During his career he led the Indomitable Lions to an unexpected victory over Côte d’Ivoire. After trailing 2-0, Cameroon eventually won 3-2.

Pascal Owona was a hero to millions not just in TKC or the Indomitable Lions, but also deep within the ruling CPDM party.

He was admired for his sportsmanship but disliked for his role in keeping President Biya in power.

He was kicked out of the Cameroon Football Federation by a controversial Sports Minister who was extremely lacking in managerial finesse but he returned to the limelight as an agent of the ruling party and helped organized counterfeit presidential elections that guaranteed President Biya’s continued stay in power.

By Rita Akana

28, January 2025

Marc Brys says Lions fear no one ahead of Cote d’Ivoire clash in AFCON 2025 ⁰

Cameroon head coach Marc Brys has delivered a defiant message following the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 draw, declaring that his team fears no opponent, including defending champions Côte d’Ivoire.

The two footballing powerhouses will meet in Group F, setting up one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament.

“We must be careful, stay true to our playing philosophy, add passion and the enthusiasm common to the Cameroonian people. We will be ready,” Brys said at the draw event in Rabat on Monday night.

“We are not afraid of any team.”

The upcoming group-stage encounter between Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire rekindles a fierce rivalry that saw the Indomitable Lions secure a narrow 1-0 victory in their last meeting during the 2021 AFCON qualifiers.

Group F also includes Gabon and Mozambique, making it one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.

Brys, who stood alongside former Ivorian captain Serge Aurier during the draw, acknowledged the historical weight of the matchup but remained confident.

“I am aware of the historical rivalry between the two countries. The only thing is to stay focused and be ourselves. Of course, they won the last AFCON, but we will be ready for the match,” the Belgian tactician emphasized.

Brys expressed satisfaction with the make-up of his squad, describing it as a “good mix” of experienced players and emerging talent.

“I have a team that combines a lot of experience and youth. It is a good mix. We must remain united and motivated,” he added.

Cameroon versus Côte d’Ivoire promises to be one of the defining moments of the group stage, with Brys confident in his team’s ability to rise to the occasion.

“The biggest opponent will be ourselves. We must remain disciplined, motivated, and fearless,” he concluded.

The Indomitable Lions, five-time AFCON champions, will rely on this balance to navigate a group that includes Côte d’Ivoire, fresh from their title-winning campaign on home soil, as well as an ambitious Gabonese side and an improving Mozambique.

The 2025 AFCON, scheduled from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will feature 24 teams competing in six Moroccan cities.

With six groups, the tournament format will see the top two teams in each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout stages.

Host nation Morocco headlines Group A, which includes Mali, Zambia, and Comoros, while other groups promise equally exciting matchups:

Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
Group F: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique

Morocco, returning as AFCON hosts for the first time since 1988, is among the favorites following their historic semi-final finish at the 2022 World Cup.

The tournament will be a showcase of African football’s finest talent, with Morocco set to play their group matches in Rabat.

Source: CAF

28, January 2025

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS: Cameroon drawn in Group F alongside Côte d’Ivoire ⁰

The 24 teams qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have learned their fates following the group stage draw held on Monday in Rabat. The tournament is set to take place in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, and promises high-stakes matchups. Cameroon finds itself in a challenging Group F, where it will face defending champions Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and Mozambique.

The most anticipated clash in this group is undoubtedly the showdown between Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire. Their last encounter took place during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers on November 16, 2021, when the Indomitable Lions secured a narrow 1-0 victory. However, this rematch comes with a different set of circumstances.

Cameroon’s assistant coach, Martin Ndtoungou Mpile, expressed confidence despite the group’s apparent difficulty. He stated that matches against Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon are familiar territory for the team. “We’re not starting as underdogs in this group. On the contrary, these are matchups we’ve known for a long time: Cameroon-Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon-Gabon. But it’s going to be tough. Now we need to prepare well. A strong mentality is essential to win the AFCON,” he said on public television.

On the Côte d’Ivoire side, Serge Aurier, captain of the Elephants, reacted to the draw with anticipation for intense matches in Group F. The former PSG defender acknowledged the challenges posed by all opponents, particularly Cameroon. “It will be difficult. Against Cameroon, we know those matches are tough. What makes Africa proud today is that all teams have improved. So, we can’t talk about just one standout team; it’s about the whole group. We just hope to get out of the group. We know our strength when we advance past the group stage, and based on what we showed in the last AFCON, we know what to do to go all the way,” he commented after the draw.

Cameroon topped Group J in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers, bouncing back after an early elimination in the Round of 16 during the last tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire. Facing Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia in their qualifying group, the Indomitable Lions finished first with 14 points (four wins, two draws, and no losses), five points ahead of Zimbabwe, which claimed the second qualifying spot. Cameroon scored eight goals and conceded just two during the campaign. Maintaining this level of performance will be crucial for their success in the upcoming competition.

Source: Sbbc

27, January 2025

Belgium: prominent footballer arrested in cocaine trafficking sting ⁰

Belgian footballer Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of an investigation into cocaine trafficking.

The 36-year-old was one of several suspects apprehended by Belgian police on Monday morning, after a series of raids were carried out across the country.

“The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium,” the Brussels prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

No further information has been released to the public.

The arrest comes just six days after Nainggolan came out of retirement to sign for Lokeren in the Belgian second division.

He scored on his debut, giving his side a point in their 1-1 home draw to K. Lierse.

Born in Antwerp, the midfielder spent most of his career in Italy, playing for both Roma and Inter Milan.

Between 2009 and 2018, he made 30 appearances for the Belgium national team.

Source: BBC

23, January 2025

Football: Claude Le Roy holds special piece of Africa Cup of Nations history ⁰

Claude Le Roy’s first two TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals tournaments saw his team finished on the podium but the achievement that the popular Frenchman is most famous for is a record nine appearances as a coach.

His is a record that might take decades to beat. “Records are meant to be broken! But for me it’s a privilege that I had all these opportunities and even more important for me is the fact I was never sacked, I always decided to leave. And that’s a big privilege,” recalls the 76-year-old, who still follows the African game with a keen eye.

“And everywhere I worked, people always asked me to come back. I’m proud of that.”

His first game in 1986 was a thrilling 3-2 win over Zambia in Alexandria where Cameroon led slip a two-goal lead but then won the match with a late penalty while a burst of three goals in the space of six minutes saw them beat Algeria 3-2 to finish top of the group. After Roger Milla’s goal accounted for Cote d’Ivoire in the semi-final, Cameroon met host Egypt in the decider, going down on penalties 5-4 after a goalless draw.

Two years later, however, the Indomitable Lions were crowned champions, overcoming hosts Morocco in a fiery semi-final and then edging Nigeria in the final in Casablanca with Emmanuel Kunde’s second half penalty settling the outcome.

Le Roy coached Senegal at the 1990 and 1992 finals, finishing fourth the first time in Algeria but then being disappointingly eliminated by his old Cameroon charges in the quarter-finals when Senegal hosted the 1992 finals.

Le Roy missed the next six Cup of Nations finals before taking the Democratic Republic of Congo to the 2006 tournament in Egypt, where they reached the last eight.

In 2008, he coached a host nation for the second time, this time Ghana but there was a disappointing semi-final exit to Cameroon again.

In 2013, Le Roy was back with the Leopards but three draws in their first round meant they finished third in the group. It was the first time in seven tournaments the coach had not taken a side beyond the first round.

Congo had missed six successive finals before Le Roy qualified them for the 2015 edition in Equatorial Guinea and saw them to the quarter-finals as they won their group.

Le Roy’s last tournament was in Gabon in 2017 with Togo and his record 38 games as a coach at the finals has seen 16 wins, 12 draws and 10 losses with a positive goal tally of 44 scored to 38 conceded.

Le Roy at the Cup of Nations finals

1986 (Cameroon)

Cameroon 3 Zambia 2

Cameroon 1 Morocco 1

Algeria 2 Cameroon 3

Cameroon 1 Cote d’Ivoire 0

Egypt 0 Cameroon 0

1988 (Cameroon)

Cameroon 1 Egypt 0

Cameroon 1 Nigeria 1

Cameroon 0 Kenya 0

Morocco 0 Cameroon 1