Government Steps In as Emergency Talks Are Called to Save Bamboutos FC

By Gisela Lum

Journalist,kick442.com-Cameroon

Fresh efforts to rescue Bamboutos Football Club of Mbouda have been launched following an official invitation issued by the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, calling for high-level consultations to chart a way forward for the troubled club West Region Club.

In a formal letter addressed to Justin Tagouh, CEO of Afrique Media in Yaoundé, the minister underscored the symbolic and unifying role Bamboutos FC plays within the Bamboutos Division and Cameroonian football at large. Describing the club as a “tool of togetherness” and a “point of pride for our unity,” the minister warned that its declining situation threatens not just sporting results but the image and cohesion of the entire department.

The initiative comes after weeks of turbulence surrounding the Mangwa Boys, marked by administrative instability, financial strain and uncertainty over their preparedness for national competitions. Acknowledging the shocks the club has recently endured, the minister revealed that, after consultations with several stakeholders, he decided to convene “the brothers and sisters of the Bamboutos Department” to work collectively toward the club’s revival and promotion. To make matters worst, the club started a league game last weekend with just eight players and were forced to abandon the match after two players were injured in the first half.

The crucial meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 4 February 2026, from 10:00 a.m., at the minister’s cabinet on the 10th floor of the Ministry of Public Works headquarters in the Etoudi administrative district of Yaoundé.

According to the invitation, discussions will focus on four key areas: a detailed presentation of Bamboutos FC’s current administrative situation; preparatory measures to ensure the club’s “honourable and victorious” participation in the national championship; an examination of options for more rational and sustainable management; and the mobilisation of financial contributions aimed at restoring the club’s stature and competitiveness.

The move signals rare and direct government-level engagement in the affairs of one of Cameroon’s most historic clubs, reflecting growing concern over the survival of traditional football institutions amid mounting governance and funding challenges.

Ending his message on a rallying note, the minister called for unity and collective responsibility, declaring: “Ensemble nous pouvons ! Nous devons !” (“Together we can! We must!”).

As Bamboutos FC battles to reclaim stability and relevance, Wednesday’s meeting is widely seen as a decisive moment that could determine whether the Mangwa Boys find a new lifeline—or slide deeper into crisis.