By Neilley Claude EBESSA
Journalist kick442.com – Cameroon
Cameroon football is suffering in silence and hiding its realities to a world that thinks it is doing well.”
— Angu Lesley
This blunt observation has been dramatically illustrated in the opening days of the 2025–26 MTN Elite One season, when Cameroon’s top league was shaken by referee suspensions and a match-fixing investigation right from Day One. The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) publicly provisionally suspended four referees and a match official after the first-round clash between Victoria United and PWD de Bamenda, citing “manifestly questionable” officiating decisions, and launched an administrative investigation into another opener amid serious suspicions of manipulation. This rare public disciplinary action has exposed how fragile confidence in domestic football has become.
But this controversy is not an isolated event. It is the latest symptom of deeper, long-standing issues that insiders like Angu Lesley have long decried. Weak refereeing standards, inconsistent officiating, and perceived unfairness have eroded trust within the game. Earlier seasons saw multiple referees sanctioned for unprofessional behaviour, and disputes over officiating quality have been constant talking points among players, coaches, and supporters.
Financial instability compounds these challenges. In 2025, players from Union Sportive de Douala publicly boycotted training sessions in protest against months of unpaid salaries and bonuses, illustrating how economic hardship can trigger open resistance from those on the pitch. Historically, professional clubs have even threatened to boycott league competitions entirely over delayed government subsidies and poor financial management, signaling that these tensions are deeply rooted and systemic.
Meanwhile, many clubs continue to operate with limited funds, relying on unstable sponsorship or personal investments by owners. This precarious funding affects every level of the game — from training equipment and medical care to youth development and administrative capacity. Players, officials, and support staff often face poor pay, delayed wages, and weak contractual protections, forcing them to choose between their passion for football and financial survival.
Infrastructure and logistics add another layer to this struggle. Teams regularly train and compete in facilities that fail to meet basic standards, and long travel distances in inconsistent transport conditions take a toll on performance and morale. On top of this, the football calendar remains unstable, disrupted by administrative decisions, sudden postponements, and leadership disputes that make long-term planning nearly impossible.
Together, these pressures not only undermine the quality of the domestic league but also validate what Angu Lesley described: a football ecosystem suffering quietly while the outside world assumes it is thriving.
A Way Forward: From Silence to Systemic Reform
The crisis now unfolding — with officials suspended amidst integrity inquiries from Day One of the season — should be more than just another headline. It should serve as a turning point. Cameroon football can no longer afford to survive on reputation alone while structural weaknesses deepen behind the scenes.
Restoring credibility must begin with rebuilding trust in officiating. Referees need proper training, professional contracts, and timely pay, while disciplinary processes must be transparent and independent to remove doubts about integrity and external influence. When officials are respected, valued, and accountable, confidence in the game will follow.
Equally urgent is the need to stabilize the financial foundation of the sport. Players, coaches, referees, and club staff cannot perform at their best when salaries and allowances are uncertain. Clear payment systems, audited accounts, and enforceable contracts would go a long way in reducing the strikes and protests that have become common. At the same time, clubs should be supported and encouraged to grow their own revenue through sponsorships, marketing, youth development, and community engagement instead of relying almost entirely on federation support.
Administrative consistency is another pillar of reform. A fixed and protected football calendar would bring order to a league often disrupted by postponements and sudden decisions. With predictability comes better planning, improved logistics, and increased confidence from investors and broadcasters. This stability must be matched with serious investment in infrastructure and transportation, so players are no longer forced to compete on unsafe pitches or travel long distances in exhausting conditions that undermine performance and professionalism.
Finally, sustainable progress will depend on dialogue. Regular, structured engagement between FECAFOOT, referees’ bodies, players’ unions, and club representatives can prevent grievances from escalating into strikes, boycotts, or public confrontations. When those inside the system are heard and respected, frustration is less likely to turn into rebellion.
Until these changes take root, Angu Lesley’s words will remain painfully accurate. Cameroon football may continue to project strength to the outside world, but those inside the system will keep living the reality of a game struggling behind the scenes. True success will come not from hiding these realities but from confronting and fixing them.
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