CHAN 2022: Cameroon considering withdrawal
Cameroon is considering pulling out of the 2022 CHAN in Algeria because of tensions between the two countries.
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Another twist in the controversial World Cup 2022 play-off saga between Algeria and Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions could miss the 2022 CHAN, which kicks off in Algeria on 13 January. And this time it is not over money, but security. A report filed by an official of the Cameroonian football federation to his superiors states that "Cameroon's participation in the CHAN is very risky in terms of the safety of players, supporters and officials. "
The report is said to have alerted the Cameroonian federation and the country's authorities who, according to information from Sport News Africa, have already held several meetings to discuss the security issue, without so far reaching a final decision on participation. It is the fallout from the tensions that have simmered since the second leg of the 2022 World Cup play-off between Algeria and Cameroon in March, when Karl Toko Ekambi's goal in the closing seconds sent the Indomitable Lions through at the expense of the Greens.
Cameroon's security in Algeria under the spotlight
Since then, the Algerian camp has criticised the refereeing of the match, pointing to bias on the part of Gambian official Bacary Gassama and going as far as lodging a formal appeal with FIFA. Months of tension between the two federations followed, played out through the media, despite FIFA's decision to reject the Algerian request. That has not led to any calming of tempers, as the latest episode at the World Cup in Qatar showed, with Samuel Eto'o striking an Algerian supporter who had hurled abuse at him.
Read more on this story: World Cup 2022: Samuel Eto'o loses his temper violently
"Fecafoot had already approached CAF, the Algerian football federation and local government officials about this ", journalist Richard Naha, who was contacted by Sport News Africa, said. "Cameroon has decided to postpone its participation in the 2022 CHAN, a decision taken at the highest level for security reasons, yes, for security reasons, because the Cameroonian leaders at Fecafoot do not want to risk endangering the safety of their fellow citizens, whether players, administrators, journalists or others."
If confirmed, the decision would deal another blow to the competition and leave Cameroon facing sanctions from CAF.