Cameroon: FIFA challenges CAS over local football championship

After several postponements, the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has now set Sunday, November 22, 2020, for the kick-off of the local elite one professional football league in Cameroon.

The communication department of FECAFOOT, in a release published Tuesday, November 17, says further details of the start of the championship will be given in the hours ahead.

Going by the document, all football actors have been called upon to work for a successful 2020/2022 football season in Cameroon.

FECAFOOT headed by Seidou Mbombo Njoya has set a new date for the championship after a release from the world football governing body, FIFA granting supervision rights of local football championship to FECAFOOT.

The decision of FIFA followed a video meeting held with actors of local football in Cameroon on Friday, November 13, 2020.

Contrary to claims by the local Football Professional League (LFPC) that it has the right to organise the local football championship, FIFA said FECAFOOT should organise.

General Pierre Semengue, President of the LFPC had earlier launched the professional championship on October 31, 2020, following a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) .
The court recognised LFPC as the legitimate organiser of the football championship.

Since the release of the new decision from FIFA , General Pierre Semengue has not issued any official reaction.
Some football pundits hold that the army general may possibly use his security connection to block the start of he championship this Sunday.

The local football professional league had been suspended in Cameroon for over eight months partly because of COVID-19. The prolong delay, local footballers in Cameroon say, is affecting their career with some signing contracts with clubs in other African countries simply because the championship in Cameroon is on a standstill.

Mbatho Ntan