{"id":26420,"date":"2026-01-02T13:19:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T13:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kick442.com\/?p=26420"},"modified":"2026-01-02T13:19:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T13:19:43","slug":"cameroons-fifa-referees-a-new-chapter-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kick442.com\/fr\/cameroons-fifa-referees-a-new-chapter-for-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Cameroon\u2019s FIFA Referees: A New Chapter for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>By Neilley Claude EBESSA,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Journalist kick442.com &#8211; Cameroon<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On January 1, 2026, FIFA officially announced the list of referees, assistant referees, and futsal referees selected for the 2026 World Cup, a key moment for football officiating. For Cameroon, this announcement brought both good news and difficult changes, as some referees received renewed trust, while others lost their FIFA badges.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>11 Cameroonian Referees Keep Their FIFA Badge<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Cameroon Football Federation\u2019s (Fecafoot) Central Commission of Referees has renewed its trust in 11 referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. These referees, who have built strong reputations over the years, will continue their international officiating careers at the highest level of football.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Returning Men\u2019s Referees:<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Mefire Abdou (2022)<br \/>\n\u2022 Elvis Noupue (2013)<br \/>\n\u2022 Rodrigue Menye Mpele (2019)<br \/>\n\u2022 Effa Essouma Antoine (2013)<\/p>\n<p>These veterans, who have earned respect on the African continent and internationally, will be heading to the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025. Their experience and professionalism have made them integral to the Fecafoot\u2019s refereeing team.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Returning Women\u2019s Referees:<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Carine Atezambong (2014)<br \/>\n\u2022 Guimbang Etong Aline (2022)<\/p>\n<p>Both Carine and Aline have represented Cameroon with distinction in international tournaments, and their continued presence will strengthen the country\u2019s refereeing representation on the world stage.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>8 New Cameroonian FIFA Referees: A New Generation for 2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In an exciting development, eight Cameroonian referees are set to wear the prestigious FIFA badge for the first time. These new officials have worked hard to earn their place on the global stage and will play key roles in shaping the future of Cameroonian football officiating.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The newly selected referees are:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Men\u2019s Referees:<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Biel Kolondo (2026)<br \/>\n\u2022 Emeyene Toukene (2026)<br \/>\n\u2022 Martin Ze Mengatta (2026)<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Women\u2019s Referees:<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Ntui Ayuk Priscilla (2026)<br \/>\n\u2022 Nji Mafaintchi Claire (2026)<br \/>\n\u2022 Adji Chanceline (2026)<br \/>\n\u2022 Yeppe Rebecca (2026)<br \/>\n\u2022 Mpande Mpou G\u00e9rard (2026)<\/p>\n<p>For these eight newcomers, this is a landmark achievement, one that highlights their potential and the bright future of Cameroonian refereeing. With their debut on the FIFA stage, these officials are expected to bring new energy, perspective, and expertise to international competitions, including the upcoming World Cup.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Cameroon\u2019s Futsal Officials: A Growing Presence<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cameroon\u2019s presence in FIFA Futsal has also expanded. The country has made strides in futsal officiating, with three futsal referees now bearing the FIFA badge.<br \/>\n\u2022 Elingui Eric (2018)<br \/>\n\u2022 Ibrahim Souleymanou (2022)<br \/>\n\u2022 Marie Laure Mekoua (2026)<\/p>\n<p>Marie Laure Mekoua\u2019s selection for the 2026 World Cup is particularly significant as it marks her first appearance as a FIFA futsal referee. Her appointment signals Cameroon\u2019s growing influence in the futsal scene, and many will be watching her progress closely in the coming years.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Eight Referees Lose Their FIFA Badge<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>However, not all the news from FIFA was positive for Cameroonian officials. Eight referees have lost their FIFA badges as part of the regular review process. This change means they will not be officiating at the 2026 World Cup.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Men\u2019s Referees:<\/strong><\/em><br \/>\n\u2022 Ngwa Blaise<br \/>\n\u2022 Bito Jeannot<br \/>\n\u2022 Dimoya Florent<br \/>\n\u2022 Sanda Oumarou<br \/>\n\u2022 Maazou<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Women\u2019s Referees:<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n\u2022 Ngo Bien Marie<br \/>\n\u2022 Bahane Victorine<br \/>\n\u2022 Kenne Laure<\/p>\n<p>While the reasons for these decisions often stem from performance reviews, the loss of the FIFA badge is undoubtedly a setback for these referees. However, many of them will continue to be involved in local or continental tournaments, and their careers may still have significant opportunities ahead.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Looking Ahead: The Future of Cameroonian Officiating<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As Cameroon prepares for its future on the world stage, the combination of experienced officials and new talent is a promising sign. The 2026 World Cup will see a blend of seasoned referees, such as Mefire Abdou and Carine Atezambong, alongside the excitement of a new generation, like Biel Kolondo and Ntui Ayuk Priscilla, making their debuts.<\/p>\n<p>For Fecafoot, this momentous selection process shows the strength and potential of Cameroonian referees, who are earning their place among the world\u2019s best. While some will see their journey continue, others will look to rebuild and push forward in their careers. But regardless of the outcomes, Cameroon\u2019s refereeing community remains one to watch in the years to come.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Neilley Claude EBESSA,\u00a0 Journalist kick442.com &#8211; Cameroon On January 1, 2026, FIFA officially&hellip;<\/p>","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":26419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39,213,225,26,139,37,25,5,222],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-african-football","category-athletes","category-caf","category-exclusive","category-featured","category-fecafoot","category-fifa","category-football","category-futsal"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cameroon\u2019s FIFA Referees: A New Chapter for 2026 - KICK442 Sport News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kick442.com\/fr\/cameroons-fifa-referees-a-new-chapter-for-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_FR\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cameroon\u2019s FIFA Referees: A New Chapter for 2026 - KICK442 Sport News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Neilley Claude EBESSA,\u00a0 Journalist kick442.com &#8211; 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