Cameroonian Federation contests government’s appointment of new head coach | OneFootball

A strange situation has enveloped Cameroonian football following the departure of Rigobert Song as the nation’s head coach after the disappointing round of 16 exit at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Yesterday evening to the surprise of the federation, their replacement had been found. Via a press release from the Ministry of Sport, the government had appointed Belgian coach Marc Brys to the role without either permission or communication with Fecafoot.

The federation responded with disbelief at the news, “The Cameroonian Football Federation learned at the same time as all Cameroonians of the appointment to positions of responsibility within the National Senior Men’s Football Selection.”

The statement continued, “Fecafoot expresses its great astonishment at this act which is contrary to the terms of Decree No. 2014/384 of July 26th 2014, relating to the organisation and operation by national football selection.”

An especially bizarre scenario for the federation, run by former player Samuel Eto’o, when they had already given notice that they had begun their process of searching for a new candidate.

Furthermore, this sort of government intervention into a national federation is not allowed by FIFA, and Cameroon has already been banned from international football for this very reason in 2013. An act like this could very well see the nation once again banned from international football until the matter is resolved.

GFFN | Nick Hartland