Sports

20, December 2025

2025 AFCON: Indomitable Lions arrive in Morocco ⁰

Cameroon have touched down in Morocco ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the Indomitable Lions looking to add another title to their storied legacy as five-time champions.

However, the team is facing internal turmoil, with coach Marc Brys at the center of controversy after being sacked by the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o.

Despite this, Brys has selected his squad and begun training sessions in Casablanca, with players like Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba leading the charge.

Cameroon is in Group F, alongside Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Mozambique, and will face Gabon in their opening match on December 24.

Cameroon last won the competition in 2017 and will hope to add to their five titles.

Source: Kickoffghana

16, December 2025

Football: Panthère du Ndé Wins Cameroon Cup 2025 ⁰

Panthère sportive du Ndé won the 2025 Cameroon Cup after a penalty shootout victory, prevailing 3–1 following a 1–1 draw in regulation time against Colombe sportive du Dja-et-Lobo. Colombe entered the final as the defending champion after winning the 2024 edition. The match took place at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé. Panthère fielded a compact and disciplined side, while Colombe displayed ambition and determination to retain its title.

As the tightly contested final progressed, composure created the difference. Panthère du Ndé demonstrated greater control and calm during the penalty shootout. Consequently, the club secured the trophy and confirmed its ability to manage pressure during decisive moments of a national final.

Panthère du Ndé had previously lifted the Cameroon Cup in 1988 and 2009. The West Region club therefore claimed the third Cameroon Cup title in its history. This victory ended a 16-year wait for silverware and marked the return of a historic club to the recent honors list of Cameroonian football.

Officials celebrated the victory in the presence of Célestine Ketcha Courtès, Minister of Housing and Urban Development and honorary president of the Ndé club. Her attendance gave official recognition to what observers described as a historic moment for the West Region side. This high-level political presence increased the symbolic significance of the triumph beyond its sporting dimension.

Panthère midfielder Brandon Fopa, aged 22, earned the man-of-the-match award. He received a CFA2 million check in recognition of his influence throughout the match. He controlled midfield play and managed key phases of the contest.

By defeating the defending champion, Panthère du Ndé delivered a victory with strong symbolic value. The club confirmed its return among Cameroon’s leading teams. The third national trophy strengthened the club’s historical record and could enhance its sporting appeal, political support, commercial partnerships, and supporter loyalty.

Source: Business in Cameroon

16, December 2025

Fifa brings in new £45 ticket for 2026 World Cup ⁰

Fifa has introduced a small number of “more affordable” $60 (£45) tickets for all 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup following criticism of its pricing structure for the tournament.

World football’s governing body says the new ticket price will be available to a certain number of “loyal fans” of the countries that have qualified for the World Cup.

A Fifa official close to discussions said: “We have listened to feedback and this new category is the right thing to do” – adding the decision was unanimous.

Under the previous pricing structure, which the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) call “scandalous”, it would have cost a fan more than £5,000 to follow England at every match to the final.

The £45 ticket falls in the ‘supporter entry tier’, the lowest priced category, and will make up 10% of the allocation for each football association whose team is taking part in a competition being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

For England and Scotland, this will mean about 400 tickets will be available for £45 for their group matches.

Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, called Tuesday’s announcement a “hollow gesture” adding: “What sounds like a climbdown is a cynical attempt to deflect attention while continuing to rip fans off.”

Football Supporters Europe (FSE) said that while it welcomed “Fifa’s seeming recognition of the damage its original plans were to cause, the revisions do not go far enough to reconcile”.

Meetings took place over the weekend and early this week with senior officials in Doha, Qatar, where initial feedback on pricing was discussed.

Having raised fans’ concerns over the cost of tickets with Fifa’s hierarchy before the meeting in Doha, English Football Association insiders privately see the announcement as a step in the right direction.

“The entry tier tickets will be allocated specifically to supporters of qualified teams, with the selection and distribution process managed individually by the participating member associations (PMAs),” said a Fifa statement.

“Each PMA will define its own eligibility criteria and application process. They are requested to ensure that these tickets are specifically allocated to loyal fans who are closely connected to their national teams.

“In total, 50% of each PMA allocation will fall within the most affordable range, namely supporter value tier (40%) and the supporter entry tier (10%). The remaining allocation is split evenly between the supporter standard tier and the supporter premier tier.”

Source: BBC

12, December 2025

Francofools and the Indomitable Lions: Two squads named for AFCON ⁰

Uncertainty reigns as Cameroon prepare to head into the AFCON, which begins in just 10 days on December 21 in host nation Morocco. Cameroon see their campaign begin three days later on December 24 against Gabon, and there could be much controversy yet to come as Eto’o and Brys continue their public feud.

Mail Sport have shed light on the situation in Cameroon, where Eto’o recently marked four years as president of the Football Federation.

The former Barcelona and Chelsea striker has reportedly told the Belgian Brys that he has been relieved of his duties as manager of Cameroon, but he is reportedly ‘refusing the sack’ amidst claims that he has not been officially fired and remains under contract with the nation’s Ministry of Sport until December 2026.

He intends to lead the nation into the tournament, despite the fact that Eto’o has since appointed David Pagou as his replacement. The Cameroonian FA released their 28-man squad for the tournament with Pagou as manager on 1 December, omitting star names such as Andre Onana, ex-Bayern Munich striker Eric Choupo-Moting and Vincent Aboubakar – the latter of whom is just 12 goals away from surpassing Eto’o’s all-time goalscoring record for Cameroon.

Brys has suggested that this decision was, therefore, calculated by Eto’o, and has named his own conflicting squad for the upcoming tournament.

Brys hits out at ‘narcissistic’ Eto’o

“From the very first minute, he insulted me, and I reacted. I was too much of a competitor for him.”

Referencing the AFCON squad that excluded Onana, Choupo-Moting and Aboubakar, he added: “Eto’o had left key players and leaders out of the squad. Because, of course, he had made that selection.

“How can you go to the Africa Cup of Nations without a world-class goalkeeper? Or without Aboubakar? It’s unbelievable, but actually, it doesn’t surprise me. It’s coming from someone who is narcissistic and thinks he’s the best.

“As long as there is no signed note from the Presidency of the Republic appointing David Pagou as the coach of the Indomitable Lions, in the eyes of the State of Cameroon, Mr. Marc Brys remains. This is not up for discussion, and it has been this way in Cameroon for at least 30 years.”

Cameroon’s international struggles go beyond the feud between the high-profile pair, as the Indomitable Lions recently failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, finishing below first-time qualifiers Cape Verde in Group D and then losing out to DR Congo in the CAF play-off semi-final to see their failure to qualify confirmed.

Eto’o himself has seen previous controversy during his time as president of the nation’s Football Federation. He was handed a six-month ban from attending national team matches by FIFA in 2024, after breaching two articles of the governing body’s disciplinary code. A FIFA statement confirmed the disciplinary breaches occurred around a FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup last-16 match between Brazil and Cameroon. Eto’o has also faced accusations of corruption and electoral fraud.

Eto’o and Brys have ‘butted heads’ throughout the pair’s tenure in charge, the Belgian threatening to quit last year after his assistant Joachim Munanga was left out of the federation’s official matchday list by Eto’o, who he believed did this to undermine his authority.

Source: Goal.com

12, December 2025

FIFA accused of ‘monumental betrayal’ over latest World Cup 2026 tickets ⁰

Soccer fans have accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal” after latest prices for World Cup tickets began to circulate on Thursday.

The governing body allocates 8% of tickets to national associations for games involving their team to sell to the most loyal fans.

And a list published by the German soccer federation revealed prices ranged from $180-$700 for varying group stage games. The lowest price for the final was $4,185 and the highest was $8,680.

Those group-stage prices are very different from FIFA’s claims of $60 tickets being available, while the target from United States soccer officials when bidding for the tournament seven years ago was to offer hundreds of thousands of $21 seats across the opening phase of games.

Fan organisation Football Supporters Europe (FSE) described the current prices as “extortionate”.

“This is a monumental betrayal of the tradition of the World Cup, ignoring the contribution of supporters to the spectacle it is,” it said in a statement.

The English Football Association shared pricing information with the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) on Thursday evening, which showed that if a fan bought a ticket for every game through to the final it would cost just over $7,000.

FIFA said in September that tickets released through its website would initially range from $60 for group-stage matches to $6,730 for the final. But those prices are subject to change as it adopts dynamic pricing for the first time at the World Cup.

FIFA tickets are available in four categories, with the best seats in Category 1.

In the price list published by the German federation, there were only three categories.

The lowest priced ticket was $180 for Germany’s opening group game against Curacao in Houston. The lowest price for the semifinal was $920 rising to $1,125.

The FSE called on FIFA to immediately halt ticket sales via national associations “until a solution that respects the tradition, universality, and cultural significance of the World Cup is found”.

FIFA launched its third phase of widespread ticket sales Thursday, with fans now able to apply for specific matches for the first time through its “Random Selection Draw”.

Following last week’s draw for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, an updated schedule has been published.

That means fans know when and where the likes of Lionel Messi and Argentina will play. Previous ticket ballots were blind as the qualification period had not even been completed and the draw was yet to take place.

Now participating nations have been placed in groups, with their paths through the tournament determined. For instance, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could go on to meet in the quarterfinals in Kansas City if both Argentina and Portugal top their respective groups.

Not that fans are guaranteed to get tickets to the games they apply for.

The draw opened December 11 at 11am ET (1600 GMT) and closes January 13, 2026.

FIFA says ticket applications can be made at any point during this window and the timing of entry will not impact the chances of success. Fans can apply via FIFA’s website for a maximum of four tickets per household per match and a maximum of 40 tickets throughout the tournament.

Fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets and can pick which matches and which pricing category they want to apply for.

Successful applicants will be notified by email in February and charged automatically.

The last time the US hosted the World Cup in 1994 prices ranged from $25 to $475. In Qatar in 2022 prices ranged from around $70 to $1,600 when ticket details were announced.

Tickets for the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 are already going for in excess of $11,000 on secondary resale sites.

For this tournament FIFA has also set up its own resale platform where it charges a 15% fee based on the total resale price.

FIFA said that closer to the tournament any remaining tickets will go on general sale on a first-come, first-served basis.

It did not reveal a time frame for the release of those remaining tickets.

Source: AP

1, December 2025

Indomitable Lions: Onana out of Nations Cup squad, Eto’o names Pagou as coach ⁰

Cameroon have omitted goalkeeper Andre Onana from their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations starting this month in Morocco and appointed David Pagou as coach to replace Belgian Marc Brys.

Onana, on loan at Trabzonspor from Manchester United, is one of several experienced players dropped for the December 21 to January 18 tournament, including striker Vincent Aboubakar, who has been a mainstay of the team for the last 15 years.

The changes come after Cameroon failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Manchester United winger Bryan Mbeumo is in the squad along with Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.

The country’s football federation President Samuel Eto’o has made no secret of his desire to replace Brys, 63, since the latter’s April 2024 appointment by the sports ministry and has tried several times before.

Emboldened by his re-election as president last weekend, Eto’o has had another go and replaced the Belgian with 56-year-old Pagou, who has managed in Cameroon’s domestic league and will be assisted by Martin Ntoungou Mpile.

Cameroon opens their Group F campaign at the Cup of Nations finals against Gabon in Agadir on December 24. They also have defending champions Ivory Coast and Mozambique in their pool.

Cameroon squad:

Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucharest), Simon Omossola (St Eloi Lupopo), Simon Ngapandouetnbu (Montpellier), Edouard Sombang (Colombe Du Dja)

Defenders: Samuel Kotto (Gent), Gerzino Nyamsi (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna), Mahamadou Nagida (Rennes), Christopher Wooh (Spartak Moscow), Junior Tchamadeu (Stoke City), Darlin Yongwa (FC Lorient)

Midfielders: Martin Ndzie (Rapid Vienna), Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion), Arthur Avom (FC Lorient), Eric-Junior Dina Ebimbe (Brest), Brice Ambina (Valerenga), Jean Junior Onana (Genoa), Olivier Kemen (Istanbul B.B)

Forwards: Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United), Christian Bassogog (Al-Okhdood), George-Kevin N’koudou (Al-Diriyah), Danny Namaso (Auxerre), Frank Magri (Toulouse), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante), Christian Kofane (Bayer Leverkusen), Patrick Soko (Almeria)

Source: Reuters

30, November 2025

Football: André Onana wins over Turkey ⁰

In Turkey, André Onana is delighting Trabzonspor fans. All this just three weeks before the kick-off of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Three months after leaving Manchester United, André Onana is putting in a string of top-class performances with Trabzonspor. According to some Turkish pundits, Onana is the best goalkeeper in the Turkish league, ahead of Brazilian Ederson at Fenerbahçe.

Asked to compare the league’s goalkeepers, Zeki Uzundurukan, editor-in-chief of Fotomac—one of Turkey’s leading sports publications—didn’t hesitate for a second. “André Onana is an absolutely fantastic goalkeeper and currently the most in-form shot-stopper in the league. When it comes to decisive saves, Onana is far ahead of Uğurcan (Galatasaray) and Ederson (Fenerbahçe),” declared the journalist.

After two disastrous seasons at Manchester United, the Cameroonian has found new life on the shores of the Black Sea. Ten Süper Lig matches, eleven goals conceded—but more importantly, thirty-four saves from forty-five shots on target. His save percentage exceeds 74%, a rock-solid performance in a particularly open and attacking league. Most impressively, not a single direct error has led to a goal for Trabzonspor.

Source: Africa Foot

29, November 2025

FECAFOOT: Eto’o secures second term ⁰

Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o has secured a second term as president of the country’s football federation after winning re-election by an overwhelming margin on Saturday.

The vote, held at the CAF Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo, saw the former Barcelona and Chelsea striker run unopposed.

Of the 87 delegates eligible to cast ballots, 85 endorsed his continuity at the helm, with two ballots declared invalid.

The result hands him a commanding 97.7 per cent approval rate and extends his mandate for another four years.

Eto’o’s renewed tenure comes despite a turbulent first term marked by criticism and internal pressure.

Cameroon’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup fuelled dissatisfaction, while a series of controversies involving the federation kept his leadership under scrutiny.

Even so, Saturday’s outcome underscores the enduring influence and support he maintains within Fecafoot, setting the stage for another chapter in his stewardship of Cameroonian football.

Source: Africa Soccer

27, November 2025

Indomitable Lions: date announced for Marc Brys’ departure ⁰

The fate of current Indomitable Lions head coach Marc Brys is all but sealed. The Belgian tactician is set to leave his position.

Marc Brys is edging closer to Saudi Arabia, where he is expected to sign in January. The Belgian coach, who took charge of the Indomitable Lions in April 2024, boasts an impressive record to date. In 15 matches, he has suffered only one defeat, and successfully led the Cameroonian team to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Early reports suggest Patrice Carteron is the front-runner to take over. Carteron is no stranger to African football, having led Mali to a bronze medal at AFCON 2013. He is, however, better known for his club achievements on the continent, winning multiple titles. With TP Mazembe, he lifted the CAF Champions League trophy in 2015, before clinching back-to-back CAF Super Cups in 2019 and 2020—first with Raja Casablanca and then with Zamalek SC.

Source: Foot Africa

19, November 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo attends White House dinner alongside Saudi crown prince ⁰

Superstar footballer Cristiano Ronaldo attended a White House black-tie dinner alongside the de facto leader of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night.

Speaking ahead of the event, US President Donald Trump said it was an “honour” to host Ronaldo, whose starring role in the Saudi football league has seen him become a face of the country’s modernisation drive.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman wants to reduce the country’s dependence on oil revenues by diversifying into other areas including sports and tourism.

A White House official confirmed earlier in the day that Ronaldo would attend, but did not say if he was part of bin Salman’s official delegation.

Many critics claim Saudi’s investment is aimed at gaining legitimacy and deflecting attention from its human rights record and the environmental impact of its oil industry – a practice referred to as ‘sportswashing’.

Trump used his speech at the dinner to praise closer ties with Saudi Arabia, labelling the country a “major non-Nato ally”. Earlier in the day, Trump hosted the Saudi crown prince in the Oval Office.

Turning to the Portuguese soccer star, Trump told the gathered guests: “My son is a big fan of Ronaldo”.

“And Baron (Trump) got to meet him, and I think he respects his father a little bit more now, just the fact that I introduced you.”

Also at the dinner was tech billionaire Elon Musk, who joined other influential business leaders including Apple CEO Tim Cook. It is the first time Musk has been to the White House since stepping down as the head of the Trump administration’s Department for Government Efficiency (Doge) in April.

A dramatic feud between Trump and the Tesla tycoon played out publicly for months, and included Musk announcing that he would set up a new political party.

Ronaldo’s attendance at the White House, meanwhile, marks one of his first known visits to the US since 2016.

In the interim he has faced an allegation of sexual assault. Kathryn Mayorga alleged that Ronaldo raped her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009, which he denied.

“I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in,” he said in a statement in 2018.

In 2019, US prosecutors said Ronaldo would not face charges because the claims could not be proven.

In early 2023, Ronaldo made the jump to Saudi Arabia when he became the face of the Saudi Pro League and captain of Al Nassr – the football club owned by sovereign wealth fund PIF which is chaired by the crown prince.

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In an industry where players are paid extraordinary amounts of money, Ronaldo’s pay deal with Saudi Arabia was astronomical. The footballer was reportedly paid $200m (£152m) a year – or more than half a million dollars a day.

Then in June this year, he signed a new two-year deal for a reported total of $400m (£300m) and became football’s first billionaire player, according to Bloomberg, with a net worth of $1.4bn.

That’s a lot of money for a 40-year-old footballer in the twilight of his career.

But, according to Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, Saudi Arabia has “invested heavily in high profile events and individuals to put the kingdom on the map” in terms of sports and tourism in its quest for modernism.

Ronaldo has referred to bin Salman as “our boss” in an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan.

Earlier this month, he appeared at a Ministry of Tourism event in Riyadh where he talked up the kingdom’s development projects and his hopes for the 2034 FIFA World Cup being held in Saudi Arabia.

Source: BBC