Central African Republic: players' mutiny casts doubt over Tunisia match
With a friendly against Tunisia due on Monday 9 June, the Central African Republic could pull out following a "mutiny"
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Fresh from a 2-1 friendly win over Mauritania, the Fauves were using this international break to rebuild a little confidence after some poor performances and failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The problem is that a row over bonuses has plunged the Bamaras into an unprecedented crisis: the players refused to train on Sunday and, for the moment, do not want to play Tunisia on Monday 9 June because of a dispute over bonuses.
Both goalkeepers among the rebels
Normally, players receive a camp bonus for friendlies and no match or result bonus. According to the federation, that had also been agreed with the selected squad, who received their camp bonus on arrival in Casablanca.
Read also: Central African Republic: sports minister calls for the national football team to be suspended
However, the Fauves also demanded a result bonus following the win over Mauritania. That attitude went down very badly with the federation, particularly president Célestin Yanindji, who has since made it a personal matter.
More than the money, "trust" appears to have broken down between the "rebels" and the FCF, which has promised "disciplinary measures" against the instigators of this mutiny. According to our information, the two goalkeepers, Geoffrey Lembet and Dominique Youfeigane, are among those most heavily involved, believing that players' rights are not always respected.
Altercation with the head coach
Although many of the players are on their first or second international call-up, the experienced Cédric Yambéré is one of the key voices in this squad and in this movement. Early in the camp, he also had a heated altercation with head coach Eloge Enza-Yamissi over the vehement way the latter had addressed him.
As a reminder, the squad picked for this mini-tournament was missing most of its senior players, notably captain Geoffrey Kondogbia, who has often acted as a mediator in a football scene frequently plagued by interference from all sides...
Romain MOLINA