Minister of Territorial Administration (Minat) Paul Atanga Nji recently prohibited Albert Mbida from carrying out any activity as President of the Cameroonian football federation Fecafoot. But in a recent statement, Senator Albert Mbida rejected the Minat’s qualification to issue such a decision. 

In the release, the senator explained that according to Cameroonian laws, the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education is the institution authorized to oversee sports federations. Also, in case of dispute, the Chamber of Conciliation and Arbitration of Cameroon’s National Olympic Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) are the last resorts, he stressed.

He recalled that after the decision issued last January by the CAS, ending the mandate of Seidou Mbombo Njoya as head of Fecafoot, the general assembly constituted in 2009 met to appoint him president of the federation.  

"Currently, the members described by Minister Paul Atanga Nji as an 'unmandated band acting on behalf of the Cameroonian football federation’ are the legitimate members of the federation (...) As per the rules in force, it is rather Mr. Seidou Mbombo Njoya and his companions who are usurpers and impostors,” Senator Albert Mbida wrote.

Indeed, in a release issued on November 3, Minister Paul Atanga Nji had ordered governors to not allow "impostors who, for purely selfish reasons, continue to perform actions and hold meetings in the name of Fecafoot when they have no [legal] capacity."

His words were a subtle reference to Senator Albert Mbida, who has been claiming to be the legal appointee to the seat of the president of the Fecafoot since January 2021, instead of Seidou Mbombo Njoya.

Senator Albert Mbida’s claim also was refuted by the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) and the Cameroonian government. In February 2021, the Minat announced that while waiting for a final decision from FIFA on the electoral process to be elaborated, the government has chosen Seidou Mbombo Njoya as president of Fécafoot. 

For the time being, the electoral process is ongoing at the federation. Seidou Mbombo Njoya, who is a candidate for his succession, was elected delegate to the regional league of the West.

The elective general assembly during which the national president of the Fecafoot will be elected is scheduled for December 11. The expected contestants are Seidou Mbombo Njoya and Samuel Eto'o.

L.A.