Financial Turmoil at FECAFOOT: Employees Face Salary Uncertainty for the First Time in 20 Years

In an unprecedented turn of events in the last two decades, employees of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) are set to spend the 2023 Christmas without receiving their salaries. Moreover, uncertainty looms over the payment of the traditional 13th-month salary, a ritual within the organization managing Cameroonian football.

Journalist Boris Bertolt highlighted the situation, stating, "For the first time in 20 years, FECAFOOT employees will spend Christmas without receiving their salaries. Let's not even mention the 13th-month, which is no longer in effect."

IYA Mohammed, the president of FECAFOOT, faced criticism from journalist Guibai Gatama, who remarked, "Here is a gravedigger of our football. He killed our football; we haven't achieved anything with him. The Federation's coffers were always empty. He didn't even pay December salaries on time for a joyful family celebration."

However, a commenter, Grégoire Nzomo, cautioned against comparing current challenges with the past, stating, "This irony does not please me. We know that the situation is not at its best at FECAFOOT, but we shouldn't turn it into a drama to the point of making comparisons that border on sadism. We can ask FECAFOOT to address the problem without seeking something else. Even if IYA Mohammed had good management, there were also problems at FECAFOOT during his tenure."

Guibai Gatama responded, defending the right to express opinions, stating, "Grégoire Nzomo, you were probably young when Iya Mohammed was president, and the history of his tenure... he accepted criticism with a smile even when it was unfair or sometimes exaggerated, no high words, no dancers to hunt down opponents. For the rest, and I agree with you, it is when the situation is not at its best that criticisms are strong. Is criticism forbidden? No. Under Iya, things were going well, and he was nevertheless targeted every day, and no one complained. He is in prison largely because of football because he had to step down, and some actors still gloat over this success. We have forgiven but not forgotten! So, let us express ourselves in peace.