Cameroon's National Team Struggles in South Africa as Travel Chaos Disrupts World Cup Preparations

A Journey of Frustration and Exhaustion

The delegation departed Yaoundé on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, aboard a special flight bound for Mbombela, but the trip quickly turned into a logistical nightmare.

• The initial flight, scheduled for midday, took off late, leading to a delayed arrival in Johannesburg at 18:50 instead of a direct landing in Mbombela, despite the availability of two airports in the city.
• Upon landing in Johannesburg, immigration issues arose regarding James Etoo, a player whose passport details were incorrectly communicated to South African authorities by FECAFOOT. This left him stranded at the airport, forcing a Ministry of Sports official to remain with him while the rest of the team moved on.
• Instead of flying directly to their final destination, the team was forced to complete the 330 km journey by bus, arriving in Mbombela around 3 AM on Wednesday—barely 14 hours before kickoff.

This ordeal resulted in the cancellation of the pre-match press conference and pitch inspection, further disrupting the team's preparations.

FECAFOOT’s Role in the Chaos

FECAFOOT’s poor planning and financial mismanagement have once again come under fire.

• Reports indicate that the federation failed to secure the necessary funds for air travel between Johannesburg and Mbombela, citing budget constraints—despite the millions allocated for the national team’s operations.
• While the Cameroon High Commissioner in South Africa was awaiting the team’s arrival in Mbombela, FECAFOOT instead booked a hotel in Johannesburg, 300 km away from the match venue.
• The federation insisted on forcing the team to sleep in Johannesburg on the eve of the match, meaning players would have had to travel 300 km on match day, further exacerbating fatigue.

Player Reactions and FIFA Guidelines

The fatigue and frustration were evident among the players, with international winger Moumi Ngamaleu voicing his frustration on social media:

"C'est trop, je n'ai même pas la force de parler. Que Dieu nous garde et nous protège du mal."

FIFA guidelines explicitly discourage long bus rides before matches, especially for World Cup qualifiers. Ideally, teams should travel by air to minimize fatigue, but FECAFOOT’s mismanagement forced players into unnecessary hardship.

A Pattern of Incompetence

This is not the first time Cameroon’s national team has faced travel mishaps in South Africa.

• In November 2024, ahead of a 2025 AFCON qualifier against Namibia, the same logistical nightmare unfolded, with delayed flights, administrative blunders, and chaotic travel arrangements.
• The recurring failures have sparked widespread criticism of FECAFOOT’s leadership, which continues to prioritize politics over professionalism.

Looking Ahead: Can the Lions Overcome the Chaos?

Despite these setbacks, the Indomitable Lions will take on Eswatini today at 17:00 local time in Mbombela. The question remains: Can the team overcome their fatigue and mental exhaustion to deliver a strong performance?

With FIFA 2026 qualification at stake, the players will have to summon all their resilience—not just against their opponents, but against the very system that is supposed to support them.