Equatorial Guinea has abruptly cancelled a scheduled friendly match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, citing a disagreement over the organisation of the match.
The cancellation comes as both teams were gearing up for crucial preparations ahead of the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Abidjan, adding a layer of uncertainty to Cameroon’s pre-tournament arrangements.
While the match cancellation was not officially announced, a close collaborator of manager and coach Rigobert Song revealed the unexpected development to Equinoxe TV.
“People invented a match that was never negotiated,” the source explained, shedding light on the behind-the-scenes disagreement that led to the cancellation.
The friendly match had been set to take place in Yaoundé, the political capital of Cameroon, on Monday, January 8, 2024, as part of the teams’ preparations for the highly anticipated AFCON.
The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) had communicated this arrangement through a letter dated November 15, 2023.
In the letter addressed to Feguifut, the Equatorial Guinea Football Federation, FECAFOOT outlined the scope of their support for the match, stating that they would cover only local transport and accommodation expenses.
However, this seemingly limited support was deemed insufficient by their counterparts in Equatorial Guinea.
“We asked FECAFOOT to do a little more than what it offers for support; we waited in vain for a response. It lacked seriousness on the Yaoundé side,” revealed a source at Feguifut, speaking to Equinoxe TV.
The disagreement over the level of support for the match led to Equatorial Guinea’s decision to cancel the friendly encounter, introducing an unexpected twist to the AFCON preparations for both teams.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether the Indomitable Lions will secure an alternative opponent for their traditional goodbye match, a customary fixture before major tournaments.
With the AFCON scheduled to kick off on January 13, 2024, the sudden cancellation underscores the challenges and intricacies involved in coordinating international football events.
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