FECAFOOT Elections to be called Soon

By Boris Esono in Buea

Normalization committee soon to set the date for elections at FECAFOOT

Elections of a new head of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT will soon commence after Football governing body FIFA approved the modified copy of the statutes of FECAFOOT, paving the way for fresh election to be conducted.

            Among the leading measures announced, the president of Cameroon Football Federation should have no cumulative position. Henceforth, before going to the elections, one must have previously resigned from one’s current position.

            The second measure is the voting system that has been modernized from a list system to the single-member ballot to two rounds for each elective. All eyes are now focused on Barrister DieudonneHappi, the chairman of the Normalization Committee on the date for the election and sequence of events.

            Last year, after so many rumblings in FECAFOOT, world football governing body, FIFA stepped in an implemented a Normalization Committee charged with reviewing the statutes of the federation, thereby leading to the election of a new president, and to bring football in the country to normalcy.

            Their first six months on the job however was futile as they fail to deliver what was expected of them by the population and football pundits. Their mandate which ended sometime in February prompted FIFA to further extend it for another 6 months (until August this year) so that they can complete what they left undone. 

Another big issue that will preoccupy the Normalization Committee and possibly the new head of FECAFOOT is that of a new head coach of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. Since February 2018, the top job in Cameroon has been vacant after former coach Hugo Broos was shown the door by the Normalization Committee for failing to qualify the side to the Russia 2018 World Cup.

            Hugo Broos who won the 2017 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea with Cameroon failed to make it out of the last phase of the qualifiers for the world cup as they were beating to it by the Super Eagles of Nigeria, thereby leading to his dismissal.

            Reports indicate that some 77 well reputable coaches have applied for the position to become the next Lions coach. Among the coaches that have applied for the position is former Indomitable Lions captain and present coach of the Cadet Lions Rigobert Song.

            He will be looking to put a dismal performance at this year’s Africa Nations Championship, CHAN, in which the side failed to win a single game as they were booted out at the group stages of the competition.

            Rigobert Song is hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow compatriot Jean Paul Akono (who also applied for the position) as head coach of the national selection. Jean Paul Akono coached Cameroon in the early 2000s before a heart issue made him to quit his position as head coach.

            The 77 files received in the days ahead are expected to be scrutinize and narrowed down to just 3 persons before the interview phase begins.

            At the moment Cameroon is under interim coach AlexandreBelinga who was appointed by the Normalization Committee until a coach is appointed.