Home » Cameroon: Coton pitted against familiar foes as FECAFOOT reveals tricky 2023/24 MTN Elite 1 pairings

Cameroon: Coton pitted against familiar foes as FECAFOOT reveals tricky 2023/24 MTN Elite 1 pairings

by Lesley Ngwa
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  • FECAFOOT have paired the 19 clubs in two pools of ten and nine clubs each
  • Holders Cotonsport have inherited a tough group that includes YOSA, Victoria United FC, Fovu of Baham and APEJES among others
  • The MTN Elite One championship will start on September 27
  • Victoria United FC and Fauve Azur Elite will get the season underway on September 27 in Yaoundé
  • The rest of the opening round of matches will be played on a date to be announced by FECAFOOT
  • The 2024 Champions will be decided in a four-club playoff tournament whose details FECAFOOT will communicate
  • The winner of the championship will get 50 millions FCFA
  • At the end of the season, five clubs will be relegated and two will be promoted to achieve a 16-club Elite One in 2024

Cotonsport of Garoua will confront familiar rivals UMS of Loum – who outsmarted them to win the 2018 title, Fovu of Baham – who drag Coton to penalties in the playoffs of the 2020 championship, YOSA and Avion Academy in Pool B of the 2023/24 MTN Elite 1 championship.

The results of the pairings conducted this Saturday, September 23 at the headquarters of the Cameroon football federation (FECAFOOT) in Tsinga pooled the holders in Pool B, alongside the above-mentioned clubs noted for taking a pinch of Cotonsport’s flesh over the years.

Avion beat Cotonsport 1-0 last season in Douala, they join APEJES of Mfou in the crew of unwanted customers for the Cotonites in Pool B, just like Stade Renard – also noted for troubling the Northerners while Fauve Azur and newcomers Victoria United FC complete the tough collection of nine clubs to compete for the top two playoffs spots.

In Pool A, 2020 champions, PWD of Bamenda and ten-time winner Canon Yaounde form the top guns. Ambitious newcomers, Dynamo are joined by AS Fortuna. Last year’s second runners-up and deputy champions Bamboutos FC and Gazelle FA respectively are the wild cats while the potential of Aigle Royal, Colombe of Dja and Astre of Douala can’t overlook in a tough Pool A.

The championship expected to kick-off on September 27 will pit ten clubs in Pool A and nine in Pool B.

Newcomers Victoria United FC will confront Fauve Azur Elite in the opening game on September 27, at the Military stadium in Yaoundé.

The opener, will be a historical first meeting between newbie Victoria United FC and Fauve Azur Elite, who head into their third season in the top-flight championship.

The rest of the encounters counting for match day one will be played on the last weekend of September.

Dynamo on their return to the top-flight championship for the first time in 25 years will face AS Fortuna, who head into their eighth season in the division. The game is one of two that day in Douala, Les Astre host Aigle Royal in the other game in town. Coach Agbor Ernest of Astre will make his debut as well as Yves Clement Arroga in the opposite dugout.

Elsewhere, PWD will host Bamboutos FC managed by Ghanaian coach Asare Bediako while Canon Yaounde of coach Vincent Atangana faces Colombe of Dja under the guidance of Ndongo Emma and Gazelle FA climax the day in Pool A with a home meeting against five-time champions Union Sportive of Douala.

In Pool B, Coton host Stade Renard in the second game week 1 match in Garoua while Fovu grind ashes with APEJES of Mfou and Avion host UMS in a Littoral derby.

Pool B side, YOSA of Bamenda are exempted from match day one

Match day 1

Pool A

Dynamo Vs AS Fortuna
Astres Vs Aigle
PWD Vs Bamboutos
Canon Vs Colombe
Gazelle Vs Union

Pool B

Victoria United Vs Fauve Azur
Coton Vs Stade Renard
Fovu Vs Apejes
Avion Vs UMS

YOSA exempted

Pool A

As Fortuna
Canon of Yaoundé
Dynamo of Douala
Les Astres of Douala
-Union Sportive of Douala
Gazelle FA
PWD of Bamenda
Aigle de la Menoua
Bamboutos
Colombe du Dja et Lobo

Pool B

Apejes of Mfou
Fauve Azur
Stade renard of Melong
Avion of Nkam
UMS
Cotonsport
YOSA
Fovu club of Baham
Victoria United

The first two teams of each group will qualify for the title playoffs while the bottom three teams will qualify for the relegation playoffs through which five teams are expected to be relegated from the Elite 1 championship.

Last year’s national champion, Cotonsport accumulated maximum points from the four-club playoff to outclass the likes of Bamboutos FC, Canon Yaounde and Gazelle FA who entered the competition.

The winner of the championship will bag home an improved prize money of 50 Millions FCFA, in addition to the right to represent the country in the CAF Champions League for the 2024/25 season.

These days, the runners-up gets 30 Millions FCFA and sometimes enter the CAF Confederation Cup (if FECAFOOT decides so).

Dynamo FC of Douala and Victoria United FC of Limbe are the newbies of the championship this season while Dragon Yaounde, Renaissance, Eding Sport, YAFOOT FC of the same city plus Djiko FC of Bandjoun all got relegated at the end of last season.


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