Paul Biya did not fail to mention the Indomitable Lions as he usually does in his addresses to the nation and particularly to young people. And unlike other times when the President of the Republic cites the national football team as an example, the man regretted “ early elimination ” from his country. “ Victory is not always a matter of chance. It certainly requires talent, but also courage, discipline, organization and hard work», teaches the First Cameroonian sportsman. Referring to the early elimination of the Indomitable Lions during the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2023 which is currently being played in Ivory Coast. Cameroon was eliminated in the round of 16 by Nigeria with a score of 2-0. After having nevertheless given reasons to hope in the last match of the first round against Gambia (3-2) when the carrots were starting to be cooked for a selection which had recorded just one point in two matches. And Paul Biya, who made football the king sport in his country, knows “ that you are disappointed», addressing his youth this February 10, 2024.
The first Cameroonian athlete refuses to embark on a stocktaking exercise which would consist of naming those responsible for the debacle in Cameroon. In any case, for the circumstantial sports coach, “ victory is not always a matter of chance. It certainly requires talent, but also courage, discipline, organization and hard work“. Leaving it up to his interlocutors to dig deeper to understand. In all ways, ” it is certainly the secret of our compatriot Francis Ngannouwho amazed the whole world during his first boxing fight».
But Paul Biya does not want to let his youth believe that he was content to accept defeat. “ We will make sure of it. The government and particularly the ministry in charge of sports have received clear instructions on the subject“. And be clearer: “I know the importance you attach to football.” So “the State, in our difficult context, is making heavy financial sacrifices in this regard. He is therefore entitled to demand better organization and better results“, he said.
A mission thus entrusted to Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, the head of the sports department, to see clearly in this crisis; better, to plan “ better organization and better results “. Only the content of this mission remains unclear. Still, movements must be considered. At the moment when the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot) announced an assessment of Cameroon’s participation in the CAN Ivory Coast 2023to ultimately serve public opinion only as an “intention” to resign from its president, Samuel Eto’o Flswho ultimately remained in office.
