By Oni Ladonette Ondesa
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
51 athletes across ten disciplines will represent Cameroon at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The competition will open on November 7 and run until November 21, featuring 270 events across 19 sports.
Team Cameroon’s delegation includes participants in para athletics (4), para weightlifting (1), athletics (14), weightlifting (10), judo (6), karate (6), wrestling (5), fencing (2), table tennis (2), and ju-jitsu (1).
Notably, Cameroon will not field any teams in group sports such as football, volleyball, or handball this edition.
The success of the Cameroonian contingent in Riyadh rests heavily on the shoulders of returning heroes who made headlines in Konya. Sprinter Emmanuel Eseme, who stormed to gold in the men’s 200m at the last Games, and the weightlifting duo Eyenga Mbossi (gold) and Clémentine Meukeugni (three silver medals), are expected to anchor the country’s medal hopes once again.
For Eseme in particular, Riyadh presents both a comeback and a statement opportunity. The national sprint star, who has battled recurring injuries this season, will be looking to rediscover his top form after Cameroon’s disappointing run at the World Athletics Championships, where the country failed to secure a medal. His return to the track at the Islamic Games could offer a much-needed boost to national morale and end the year on a positive note.
The team will, however, miss the experience of Sarah Hanffou, the 2021 table tennis bronze medalist, who has since retired from international competition. Her absence leaves a gap that the younger generation, including the two-person table tennis squad will aim to fill.
The 2025 edition marks the return of the Games to its regular four-year cycle, bringing together athletes from across the Islamic world under the banner of unity and competition.
Cameroon has a modest history at the Islamic Solidarity Games, ranking 23rd on the all-time medal table with a total of 24 medals (3 gold, 9 silver, and 12 bronze). At the previous edition in 2021 (held in 2022 in Konya, Turkey), the nation sent 139 athletes and finished 15th overall with 14 medals.
With a smaller and more focused delegation this year, expectations are high for a stronger medal-to-athlete ratio. The hope is that this leaner, battle-tested squad can deliver a sharper performance and lift Cameroon’s standing on the continental stage.
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