Shortly before the match on the second day of the CAN 2023 between the Lions of Teranga and the Indomitable Lions, El Hadji Diouf did not beat around the bush to open another front against his country’s adversary. And Samuel Eto’o was man’s first target. “ I spoke to a lot of people who are at the federation and who are also on the team. They have a management problem. Cameroon’s real problem is not on the ground, it is a management problem “, asserted the former leading striker of the Senegal national team, evening guest of CAN on Canal+ on January 19, 2024. While the duel between the two Nations raged both in Yamoussoukro and in the capitals of the two countries, relayed on social networks. It is clear that Cameroon started out less overweight, but tried to keep its head high. A selection which has struggled to confirm its status as a great football nation for several years, despite the 5th continental title won in 2017. This is because Cameroonian football has been plunged into a crisis which has lasted for almost twenty years. With instability at the head of the federation, which betrays in the eyes of the world the unease on the ground.
In this context, Cameroon, under the leadership of Rigobert Song Bahanag, headed to Ivory Coast where CAN 2023 is being played. A selection subject to strong criticism as many big names and talents trying to get out of the clutches are missing. Among others Eric Maxime Choupo Moting, Michaël Ngadeu, Oum Gouet,… Without the manager-selector, whose past has not always argued for his appointment at the head of the national team, being able to convince an opinion already informed about the tense relations between certain players and federal leaders. With Samuel Eto’o as Just Moting, the father and manager of Choupo Moting openly accused of being at the origin of the non-selection of his foal, one of the best Cameroonian fireworks of the day, one of the rare Cameroonian footballers to play in a respectable club: Bayern Munich. Diouf seems to be informed of the managerial crisis which is shaking Cameroonian football. And the man who, during his days of prowess on the playground, was very provocative, did not keep his tongue on the subject.
The former number 9 of the Lions of Téranga makes fun of a country that sticks to its glorious past: “ They sleep on their history. They talk about continent. They need to know that today the continent has become the continental hotel“, he blurted. THE Indomitable Lions, although brandishing five African championship titles against a Senegal which barely snatched its first star in Yaoundé during the last edition in Cameroon, is now a has-been which forces a presence in the big leagues. Without having gotten rid of his defects which prevent him from progressing. For the former Lions of Téranga striker, “ when we talk about football today, we talk about serious teams, we talk about Morocco: they worked and they are where they are. Algeria, even Ivory Coast and Senegal“. Citing the greatest football nations of the day, who have been taking turns on the top step of the podium for several years. “ They are going to the African Cup and there is nothing ahead. You showed me that Cape Verde is ahead of Ivory Coast and the others; but today Cape Verde has progressed! Cameroon has regressed », recalls the loudmouth. Before expressing his pity for the Lions fans: “ today I feel bad for the Cameroonian supporters, because Cameroon should have been at…».
André Onana does not escape the unleashed man: “ We know how important the African Cup is for Cameroonians and Africans. They have a goalkeeper who arrives two days before the match. Today it is unacceptable in Senegal! », exclaims the former Lions of Téranga striker. The number one goalkeeper of the Indomitable Lions having obtained permission from the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot) to remain in the selection to satisfy his employer’s request, namely to play one last English championship match against Tottenham before joining the group.
This release continues to fuel debates between supporters and opponents ofEl Hadji Diouf. The man opened the front and is no longer present at the front of the stage, while the Cameroonians are gutted by the defeat of their country (3-1) against that of their provocateur.
