FECAFOOT’s painful surgical operation.

For more than two decades now, we have witnessed how foreign coaches come here and take appointments as coaches of the national team, not because they want to improve the game, but with a hidden agenda.

Experience from the recent past shows that they come with the intension of milking Cameroon white. They scheme and checkmate, trying to find fault in contract terms, or put intriguing clauses so that they take their pound of flesh, in case there is a slight problem, because they cannot deliver.

Local officials too cannot be counted on because they too have not been quite sincere. The corruption cankerworm that is plaguing the nation has also eaten deep into FECAFOOT and football management generally. Actually, officials, be they local or foreign, cannot be trusted where money is involved.

Even worse, players are also into the game. It has become nearly impossible to talk patriotism to any Cameroonian footballer, if not all sports men and women, especially if they are vying for international recognition.

No wonder, FECAFOOT dropped the names of otherwise outstanding players from its 2025 AFCON list, even though they are still doing well in their foreign clubs.

After Rigobert Song, it is now time to try another Cameroonian, David Pagou, as coach of the Lions. Afterall, some African countries have used local coaches and won continental trophies and made commendable impact at world cup level.

Importance of discipline & teamwork

One of the issues the FECAFOOT actions have highlighted is the need to reinforce discipline and team work in the camp. Football is a team sport. It requires discipline and working as a team with all collaborators having the same vision, focusing on one goal and purpose to achieve success.

Where the leader is undermined, or has to beg for respect from teammates before they can perform, such attitude becomes a cog in the wheel for overall success of the game.

Where there are no clearly defined roles of each leader, or where there is constant interference by hierarchy, there is a problem. 

The head of an institution like FECAFOOT is supposed to have a free hand in managing the material resources and people who are supposed to work with the leader to bring positive results.

Personality clashes have decades-long history in contributing to ruin Cameroon football. We remember vividly, how Pierre Lechant, the coach who once won AFCON for Cameroon, when he was coach of the Lions was booted out because of clashes with the then Minister of Youth and Sports, Bidoung Mkpatt.

That period coincided with when FIFA started pumping money into FECAFOOT as Cameroon’s football fortunes were at their peak, following impressive outings at successive World Cup bonanzas. 

What was supposed to turn Cameroon football into a veritable instrument for national development became a curse that continues to haunt the nation and the game till date.

Reason why as Samuel Eto’o Fils is kicking off his second mandate with these bold decisions; which the press categorises as setting the Lions’ den ablaze, we call on Cameroonians to allow Eto’o Fils work.

There is the feeling that he can turn things around, if all actors, players and collaborators stand by him and allow him to unveil and actualise his vision, dreams and expectations for our national football.

We should not forget that Eto’o Fils strove for and rose to high levels in global football. He certainly has dreams of achieving even higher standards for the Cameroon game. We should allow him try his luck, knowing that “uneasy is the head that wears the crown”, as our elders say.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3644 of Wednesday December 03, 2025