Cameroon: Truths about the new headquarters of Fécafoot

To the applause of the Cameroonian Prime Minister, several members of the government and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, Samuel Eto'o inaugurated on 13 May 2026 in Yaoundé, the new headquarters of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot). Warda’s building appears today as one of the emblematic projects of his mandate. But behind the image of completion lies a longer story, which began long before he took over as head of the instance.

In his speech, Samuel Eto'o also publicly recognized him: "Iya Mohamed [the former president of the Fécafoot; Editor’s note. ] saw much further than his time. It is the beginning of this beautiful dream. He was right. He understood what the history of our football needed: an administration equal to the performance of the Lions." A statement that qualifies the narratives presenting the Warda headquarters as an achievement exclusively linked to the current governance of the Fécafoot.

A construction site born before Eto'o
Yet, the project dates back to 2010, in the wake of the World Cup held in South Africa. At the time, the Fécafoot was led by Iya Mohammed, who decided to devote part of the income of the World Cup to the construction of a modern headquarters for the institution. After a call for tenders, the company Guimar won the contract at an announced cost of 1.7 billion CFA francs. Work officially started on 13 November 2012 in Yaoundé-Warda.

But the construction site suddenly gets cold a few months later. In June 2013, Iya Mohammed was arrested as part of a "mismanagement" case related to the Cotton Development Company (Sodecoton), which he also managed. His departure caused an institutional paralysis. La Fécafoot was then placed under provisional administration. But the Standardization Committee set up decides to limit itself to managing current affairs, rewriting texts, and organizing elections. The Warda construction site is deliberately left out.

The years of stagnation
Elected president of the Fécafoot in 2015, Tombi à Roko Sidiki nevertheless inherits an unfinished project. But he chose to direct investments towards the stadiums of Bafia, Bangangté, Bamenda and Sangmélima. The siege then continued to deteriorate. When Seidou Mbombo Njoya took over as head of the federation in December 2018, he discovered a case that had become explosive: according to an internal audit, Guimar had already received around 900 million CFA francs even though only 90% of the structural work had been carried out and contractual deadlines had been exceeded. Worse still, the company estimates the remainder to be executed at 2.4 billion CFA francs.

Seidou Mbombo Njoya refuses to pay. The new Cameroonian football boss then launches a legal offensive against Guimar. On 13 February 2020, the Fécafoot officially notified the company of the termination of the contract. On 3 July 2020, the Central Court of Appeal finally ruled in favor of the federation by rejecting Guimar’s request to prevent the resumption of work. This judicial victory definitively unblocks the case. In the process, Fécafoot launches a new call for tenders won by PAC International. 

The FIFA loan
According to the former secretary general of the football body, Parfait Siki, the cost of the project was then reassessed at nearly 4 billion CFA francs, including equipment. To finance the project, Fécafoot is requesting a zero-interest loan from FIFA implemented during the Covid period. 

"At the time, la Fécafoot raised the problem of the ability to repay the loan granted by FIFA and suggested that rental apartments be added to the initial project,"

 explains Parfait Siki. 

"PAC International makes development proposals that include the increase of two floors, allowing Fécafoot to generate rental revenues of 30 million monthly. FIFA approves. Duration of the project: 12 months." PAC International, trusted by FIFA, launches the work on its own funds. But the defeat of Seidou Mbombo Njoya in the December 2021 election will once again turn everything upside down.  

When Samuel Eto'o took over the presidency of  Fécafoot at that time, he nevertheless found a project already structured legally and financially. «But he is consumed by suspicion for all the work of his predecessor, says  Mr. Siki. He tries to break the agreement with PAC International and engages in an arm wrestling which he loses." PAC International would benefit from strong support at the top of the state. Thus, after more than three years of tension and negotiations, a compromise is found, allowing the effective resumption of work until the inauguration this Wednesday.