Former Indomitable Lions stars Bill Tchato, Jules Denis Onana and François Omam-Biyik have been thrust into an unexpected political storm after the Mfoundi Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) abruptly dissolved their long-standing association — a move that comes only days after President Paul Biya’s victory on 23 November 2025.
Their fall from political enthusiasm to administrative humiliation has stunned observers across Yaoundé.
From Campaign Hype to Sudden Silence
In the feverish weeks of the presidential campaign, the trio’s association burst back into the spotlight. The former stars appeared at rallies, declared loud support for the ruling party and took part in hyper-charged mobilisation gatherings popularly nicknamed “early food sessions.”
Their energy made them unexpected political mascots, generating both attention and ridicule on social media.
But immediately after Biya’s re-election, their visibility evaporated. They were absent from the victory celebrations, raising questions about what had happened behind the scenes. The answer came swiftly.
The Prefectural Blow
On 19 November 2025, SDO Djikdent Emmanuel Mariel signed an order stripping the Association of Former Indomitable Lions (ALIFOOT) — the structure connected to Tchato, Onana and Omam-Biyik — of its legal status.
The administration cited internal conflicts and an overlap with another officially recognised group, the Collectif des Anciens Lions Indomptables du Football.
With one signature, the association that once unified some of Cameroon’s most respected football legends was legally erased.
The same order also swept aside two additional football-related associations accused of trade-union activities, administrative irregularities and interference in FECAFOOT’s affairs. The SDO’s message was clear: the recent wave of chaotic activism within the football sector had crossed a line.
A Political Gamble Gone Wrong?
For analysts, the symbolism is striking. The very group that loudly aligned itself with the ruling party now finds itself dismantled by the State it supported.
Some observers argue that the former players were caught in a political game bigger than themselves — useful during the campaign, expendable once the ballots were counted.
Others believe the government simply sought to restore administrative order after weeks of confusion sparked by competing groups claiming to represent ex-footballers.
Either way, the dissolution has left Tchato, Onana and Omam-Biyik exposed, their platform wiped out at the moment they seemed closest to regaining influence.
What Next for the Former Lions?
The trio has remained silent since the decree, deepening speculation. Their association’s collapse not only strips them of political visibility but also raises questions about their future role within football governance.
Whether they regroup, rebuild or retreat remains uncertain. What is clear is that their brief surge into political mobilisation has ended not with triumph — but with an administrative knockout.
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