Opposition Member of Parliament for Wouri East, Hon Nourane Foster, says the government is instrumentalizing the crisis between the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP) and the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) to divide youths in the country.
A divided youth could play in favour of the regime in next year’s presidential, legislative, and municipal elections, where the opposition is mobilising youths with the hope of ending President Paul Biya’s 41-year reign.
Nourane Foster’s statement, made on her Facebook page, suggests that the regime wants youths to oppose Samuel Eto’o, the President of Fecafoot, who has strongly disagreed with the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, for weeks now over the appointment of the coaching staff of the male national team.
“Stop the instrumentalization and manipulation of our Generation,” she said.
“The idea is to oppose young people among themselves in order to seize power forever and leave us in eternal misery. Let us not fall into the trap of hate and division. Let’s stand together and the time of our Generation is coming soon. As a Youth of our Generation, don’t give in to manipulations,” Hon Foster added.
Reiterating her support for Eto’o, who is also a youth, the 36-year-old MP called on Cameroonian youths to rally behind the Indomitable Lions in their upcoming World Cup qualifier games.
Cameroon faces Cape Verde on Saturday, June 8, on the third day of the Africa zone qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
The match will be taking place amid a heated rift between the FA and the Ministry of Sports, with both parties claiming legacy over the appointment of Marc Brys as national team coach.
On Monday, Fecafoot accused the Ministry of intimidation and refused to provide vehicles and training equipment for the team as they undertook their first training ahead of the encounter.
The team’s management resolved to rent a commercial transport bus for the players and obtained training gear from the official equipment supplier One All Sport.
