Lionesses beg FECAFOOT to reinstate suspended coach, Brian Ndoko.

In the one minute, 57-seconds recording, a group of over 18 of the 23 U17 Lionesses in camp revealed that they are completely devastated by the suspension.

The youngsters said the move to sideline the technician and his collaborators in favour of a new technical leadership has left them in mourning mood as they brace for the World Cup expedition where they begin their campaign against the Netherlands on October 18.

FECAFOOT suspended Brian Ndoko on October 1, blaming the decision on what it described as moral misconduct by the tactician who was scheduled to travel with the U17 Lionesses team to Morocco later that night.

The federation replaced the former trainer with the deputy head coach of the Indomitable Lionesses, Josephine Mike Ndoumou.

It detailed without clarifications that the move was taken in full respect of its commitment to “protecting the moral and physical integrity of the players and to upholding the ethical values that underpin Cameroonian, continental and global football”

Lionesses united behind Ndoko

FECAFOOT had said the decision was taken for the interest of the players. But the players, per the declarations in the video, where they are led by team captain, Tiwa Lys Fraiche, think otherwise. They said the suspension has completely broken and physically shattered them. 

“We are presently in a difficult position and we need our coaches back,” captain Tiwa Lys stated in the video. 

“We learned about the development while we were at the CAF Excellence Centre in Mbankomo before we travelled. After we got the information, we were completely broken We lost appetite. We want the technical bench to be reinstated,” defender, Aghogue Crystal, who is considered one of the most senior players in the team, added.

Goalkeeper, Mabou Jessica, made a similar call in the video. She said the suspension of the trainer has left them as orphans without direction on the next step to take without direction.

“…we want our parents who have been together with us for over a year to be brought back. We want authorities to have pity on us. We have the feeling that we have lost our parents and are completely shattered by that. We want our coaches back,” the youngster stated.

FECAFOOT has not made an official comment on the players’ call. 

Mixed reactions trail players’ outing

The move by the players has sparked mixed reactions across social media platforms. While a section of the players are hailed for standing up for what they describe as their rights and the interest of Cameroon, some have criticized, described as being naive and remote-controlled by external parties. 

The U17 Women’s World Cup gets underway in Morocco on October 17 assembling 24 nations in a showpiece that is scheduled to roundup on November 8.

Cameroon faces the Netherlands on October 18 in its opening game in Group B where it will be up against three-time title holders and defending champions North Korea and 2018 runners up Mexico.

The team has lineup friendlies against China, Ecuador and Zambia in Morocco, to finalize preparations ahead of the tournament.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3586 of Monday October 06, 2025