By Fredrick Nadulli,

Pity the once Indomitable Lions of Cameroon who have since fallen from grace to grass.The big cats roar no more and like circus lions,are now as harmless as a baby.

Acclaimed by the footballing world for the flair they have displayed over the years,the team has since descended into a nether world of gloom.

The fans,meanwhile,are left wondering whether players of the calibre of Emmanuel Kunde,Roger Milla,Stephen Tataw and Emille Mbouh will ever rise again.Sadly,Cameroon’s problems are of their own making.


COUPE du MONDE


The lions made it to the global fiesta in Brazil at the expense of Cape Verde.Not that they did not deserve to.The cracks were beginning to show long before the fiasco in South America got underway.

Ignominious defeat in the World cup was the final act in a drama which has seen them descend from their numerous glories to a footballing hell.


Well beaten by Mexico and Croatia,the Lions’ once unstoppable locomotive finally rusted to a halt following a hiding by the Selecao.And just to underline how lukewarm their campaign was,they managed a paltry one goal and soaked in nine.


This was not the Cameroon Africa had grown accustomed to.This is the nation that mesmerised at Italia 90,thereby earning Africa a third slot at the World cup,ran away with gold at the Olympics in Sydney and dominated the Afcon like child’s play.

Big names rose to the fore to write the golden pages of Cameroon football.Names like Patrick Mboma,Geremi Njitap,Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto’o caused ripples every corner.

If yesterday’s success was echoed from one part of the continent to another,so too is today’s failure.
When did the rain start beating the Lions?

INFIGHTING AND BLOATED EGOS

In Cameroon and at FECAFOOT,the body that runs the sport,rows over money are so rife they have become like a national pastime.

Players staging sit-ins and boycotting matches has become the norm rather than the exception.This ugly trait reared its ugly head prior to Brazil 2014.


No less than the captain himself,monsieur Eto’o,led from the front.Once Cameroon’s blue-eyed boy,Eto’o is now the enemy within.

Arguably Africa’s wealthiest footballer,he has made his nation’s football a poisoned chalice.He has been at loggerheads with FECAFOOT countless times and even once alleged an assassination plot by the top honchos of the body.Whatever happened to Samuel Eto’o the patriot?

This is the same player who at one time offered his national teammates expensive designer watches as an incentive to put in extra energy before a crucial qualifier.


For this world cup,they were doomed before they arrived in Brazil.Their goose was already cooked.Amidst poor shambolic preparation,they lacked a senior figure to hold things together for them.

The skipper had long ceded this role.He was a bad influence.Infighting in camp was the order of the day.

Meanwhile,indiscipline and naivete at the biggest stage did them in.Alexandre Song,like his uncle Rigobert two decades ago,took leave of his senses and in a sudden rush of madness got himself dismissed.

Benoit Assou Ekoto needlessly headbutted a team mate.This was a team that had long lost it.They were in Brazil physically.Their hearts and minds were thousands of miles away.

PICKING THE PIECES

Cameroon has lots of dust swept under the proverbial carpet.Their tepid approach to the showpiece was not only a shame to them but to Africa in general.

The whole continent was as always behind them and the other four representatives in uniform solidarity.

Sometimes these well-to-do players need be reminded that money is a means and not an end.Playing for country is no mean feat and its a coveted badge of honour.Just ask those who never got the chance to be internationals.

As for FECAFOOT,world governing body FIFA disburses enough funds to federations for good preparations.Like some bodies their type,they choose to play games with the cash.

You provided fertile grounds for your players to go slow.

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com