Cameroon: uncertainty over 2024-2025 football season

Five months after the end of the previous season, the Cameroonian football championship is still in limbo, with no official restart date. Amid silence from the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot) and financial uncertainty, clubs are left in complete limbo. This prolonged delay is causing concern among those involved in Cameroonian football, starting with club officials, coaches and players, who are the first to feel the consequences. "We're operating in a totally amateurish way. It's very disappointing for a Federation run by a former top-level footballer," said one club president, who asked not to be named.

A pre-season that drags on and presidents at the end of their tether

Teams are indeed continuing to train in a climate of uncertainty. With no firm start date for the season, training is losing intensity and effectiveness. "Coaches are preparing players without a calendar, and club presidents are paying twice over in bonuses," said journalist Francis Bakapa. He also pointed to the postponement of a Fécafoot Executive Committee meeting that had been scheduled and was meant to provide clarification, but has only added to the confusion. "In the meantime, players are left to their own devices, coaches are preparing their teams without a clear schedule because they don't know how long they will have to keep training, and all of this weighs on performances in African competitions. It's like preparing for an exam without knowing when it will take place."

For sports commentator Billy Houto, the main reason for the deadlock is financial: "There's no money." In his view, funding for Cameroonian football is a chronic problem. "On top of the uncertainty, clubs are still waiting for sponsors' subsidies for the season just ended. Fécafoot accuses clubs of not paying their players, yet clubs that say they have provided the necessary supporting documents are still waiting to be paid what they are owed. Amid this uncertainty, some clubs have approved budgets for the season without being sure they will be able to raise the money."

Fécafoot's silence

Fécafoot's silence is making matters worse. A promise had been made to improve conditions for clubs and the running of the championship, but Samuel Eto'o, the governing body's president and a former iconic player, appears less responsive than expected. "We thought that with a former professional at the head of our Federation, things would improve, but after three seasons, progress is slow in coming and the situation is worrying," Houto observed. For sports commentators and clubs alike, this institutional silence shows a lack of vision and responsiveness that is tarnishing the image of the current administration.

Ultimately, some argue, this deadlock could come at a heavy cost to Cameroonian football. On the pitch, the lack of competition is weakening clubs, blunting players and undermining the chances of Cameroonian teams shining on the African stage. Financially, the situation is squeezing clubs that are already struggling.