2014 World Cup: Ex-Lions defender reveals shocking corruption claims in Lions den.

In the interview, Bong stated that some officials of the team, which he did not mention in the interview, approached him and asked him to surrender his bonuses in exchange for a place in the 2014 World Cup squad. 

According to Bong, he turned down the offer and did not make the squad list for the quadrennial international football competition.  

“The day before the list of players for the 2014 World Cup was published, I was in my room. I could hear noise in the corridor. Usually, at that time of day, there's no noise. The coach had selected his players for the World Cup and I had been selected. They told me openly that I had to take part in the World Cup, but that they would have to collect my bonuses, otherwise I wouldn't go," Bong is quoted to have said during the interview. 

Bong went further to add that: "The list finally came out and I wasn't on it. If they said there wasn't any money and they needed us to represent our country, I'd be the first to go. But imagine if money was being paid out for the players and you told me you were taking it? Just imagine. What would you do in my place?". 

It is important to note that Bong agreed to play for the Cameroon national team after spells with the French youth teams. 

He made his debut with the Indomitable Lions in 2010 when he was named in Cameroon's 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa by then head coach, Paul Le Guen. 

Bong played one match for Cameroon in the tournament. That was Cameroon's last group match against the Netherlands where they lost 2–1. 

Cameroon lost all three group games, finishing bottom of Group E of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and suffered a humiliating group stage exit.

Four years later, he didn't make the cut for the 2014 FIFA World Cup over what he claims was due to corruption.  

Without Bong on the list, the Indomitable Lions still suffered a routine group stage exit finishing bottom of their group without a point. 

They lost 1-0 to Mexico in their group A opener, suffered a 4-0 thrashing to Croatia in their penultimate game and were humiliated by Brazil 4-1 in their final group game. 

Bong spent four years away from Cameroon, due to a dispute with the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT. 

As a result, he didn't get a call up from the national side until September 2018. 

He was in the starting lineup in the 1–1 draw against Comoros on September 8. 

Barely two months later, on November 20, 2018 Bong captained the Indomitable Lions in a 1-0 loss to Brazil. 

Bong was included in the Cameroon squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Cameroon, who were defending champions at the time following their triumph in the 2017 edition, beat Guinea Bissau 2–0 in their opening group game with Bong an unused substitute. 

Bong started in their next group stage match against Ghana which finished goalless.  

Bong made a total of 16 appearances for the Cameroon national team between 2010 and 2019. 

He is among a number of footballers who have opened up alleged corruption practices in the men's senior national team.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3454 of Saturday May 24, 2025