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Cameroon’s Élite One championship: Drama, Financial Woes, and Rising Stars
DOUALA, Cameroon, Jan. 14, 2025 — Matchday 7 of the Élite One championship was as dramatic off the pitch as it was on it, with highlights ranging from crowd chaos and supporter confusion to financial struggles and standout performances.

Stadium Incident at Douala-Bepanda
A commotion erupted at the entrance of the Annexe Stadium in Douala-Bepanda during the match between Astres and Panthère. Frustrated by the 2,000 FCFA entry fee, approximately 100 spectators forced their way in without paying. Late intervention by law enforcement meant organizers could do little to prevent the disruption. Despite this, the match generated gate revenue of 976,000 FCFA.
Supporter Mix-Up: Celebrating the Wrong Team
In an amusing anecdote, a Panthère supporter celebrated Astres’ victory, mistakenly believing his team had won. The confusion arose because both teams traditionally wear green and yellow kits. On this occasion, Astres donned green and yellow, while Panthère played in white.
The supporter only realized his mistake upon hearing the 2-1 result on Radio Équinoxe. After initially accusing the broadcaster of spreading false information, he later apologized, attributing his error to the absence of a scoreboard at the stadium.
Financial Struggles and Innovation
Amid ongoing financial difficulties, Panthère Sportive du Nde took a proactive step by setting up a merchandise stand at the stadium to sell jerseys and memorabilia. This initiative aims to generate funds for the cash-strapped club, which, like others in the league, struggles to pay player salaries and bonuses regularly.
The situation remains dire for many clubs. While sponsors such as MTN, 1xbet, and Tiof adorn player jerseys, the revenue from these deals often does not reach the teams. As a result, clubs must find creative ways to sustain operations, and others are encouraged to emulate Panthère’s marketing efforts.
A Crisis of Medical Services
The financial crisis has led to alarming gaps in essential matchday services. Some games lack medical teams and ambulances, leaving injured players without proper care. The Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) had pledged a 100,000 FCFA allowance per game to cover ambulance services, but these payments have not been made in a long time.
This has resulted in shocking scenes of players carrying injured teammates off the field unaided, highlighting the urgent need for solutions.
Standout Performances: Gazelle FA’s Stars Shine Bright
Despite the challenges, Gazelle FA of Garoua continues to impress. Their 4-1 away victory over Yosa highlighted their dominance this season.
Two players, in particular, have been pivotal:
- Daura, with five goals and three assists, has displayed remarkable consistency and skill.
- Youmba, with four goals and three assists in just six matches, has proven to be a game-changer.
These performances have propelled Gazelle to second place in the standings, with 14 points, just behind leaders Colombe, who sit on 17 points.
Matchday 7 Results (Jan. 11–12, 2025)
Sunday, Jan. 12:
- Colombe 2 - Bamboutos 1
- Canon 1 - Coton 1
- Yosa 1 - Gazelle 4
- PWD 0 - Union 0
- Stade 1 - Fauve 1
- Astres 2 - Panthère 1
- Victoria 3 - AS Fortuna 1
Saturday, Jan. 11:
- Aigle 1 - Dynamo 0
Standings After Matchday 7
- Colombe (17 pts)
- Gazelle (14 pts)
- Victoria (13 pts)
- Canon (12 pts)
- Dynamo (11 pts)
- Fauve (10 pts)
- Coton (10 pts)
- Astres (10 pts)
- Stade (9 pts)
- Union (8 pts)
- PWD (8 pts)
- Bamboutos (7 pts)
Relegation Zone:
13. Panthère (7 pts)
14. Fortuna (6 pts)
15. Aigle (6 pts)
16. Yosa (2 pts)
Looking Ahead
As Élite One moves forward, clubs must address pressing financial and logistical challenges to ensure smoother operations. Meanwhile, fans can continue to look forward to thrilling performances on the pitch, with rising stars like Daura and Youmba offering hope for the future of Cameroonian football.
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