Douala: Customs seizes over 35 million FCFA-worth fake national team jerseys.

The fake jerseys, estimated to be worth over 35 million FCFA, were publicly displayed by customs officials at the former Customs Office in Bonanjo. 

The display unfolded in the presence of representatives of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT.

The Head of Customs in the Littoral Region, Sophrey Hamilton Fru, used the occasion to recount the circumstances surrounding the seizure. Sophrey said the interception occurred during routine customs surveillance of imported goods arriving from China.

"Customs officers, while supervising the offloading of a container shipment from China, noticed a large consignment labelled as sports equipment branded with Cameroon national team emblems," Sophrey explained.

He added that given the “suspicious labelling and poor packaging, we suspected counterfeiting and immediately contacted FECAFOOT for verification”. 

Sophrey said a technical team from FECAFOOT was dispatched without delay and after thorough inspection, it was confirmed that the items were indeed counterfeit replicas of the original jerseys.

The timing of the operation, officials said, is particularly crucial, as the country prepares for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, in Morocco, a moment of heightened national football pride and merchandise sales.

Speaking during the display, the Head of FECAFOOT’s Communications Department, Jean Marie Nkoussa, emphasised the importance of public vigilance. 

“It is essential for Cameroonians to know that genuine jerseys are available at certified sales points. There are clear differences between authentic products and counterfeits, and we are working tirelessly to ensure fans wear the true colors of the national team,” Nkoussa said. 

He also stressed on the Federation’s determination to clamp down on such illicit practices. He said FECAFOOT is working closely with national authorities to establish robust mechanisms to combat the counterfeiting of national team equipment.

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to trace the origin and network behind the counterfeit goods. 

Authorities are optimistic about apprehending those involved in the illegal trade and issuing appropriate sanctions. 

They have called on the public to collaborate by reporting any suspicious sales or unofficial distribution points of national team jerseys.

The seizure, officials had hinted, is fruit of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, which FECAFOOT and Customs Department on April 2, 2025. 

By the MoU, Customs Department was committing to launch a robust fight against importation of counterfeit sports kits.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3512 of Wednesday July 23, 2025