The match Cameroon-Kenya , part of the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), will be played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé.
In a press release made public on October 3, 2024, the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot) announced this, mentioning that the match was initially scheduled to take place at the Japoma Omnisports Stadium. Samuel Eto’o and his team are thus compelled to play in a stadium long chosen by Marc Brys, the head coach of the Indomitable Lions, for their matches.
This decision by Fécafoot comes in the wake of an inspection mission by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cameroon from September 26 to 28. CAF experts inspected various sports facilities, including football stadiums such as the Reunification Stadium in Douala, the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, the Yaoundé-Olembe Omnisports Stadium, the Douala-Japoma Omnisports Stadium, the Kouékong Omnisports Stadium in Bafoussam, and the Nguémé Omnisports Stadium in Limbé. CAF has only approved the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé and the Kouékong Stadium to host the Indomitable Lions’ matches for now.
This has forced Fécafoot which had so far insisted on Japoma to return to Yaoundé with a heavy heart. After failing to have Cameroon-Namibia played in this stadium built in preparation for AFCON 2021, Fécafoot had preferred the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua. The pitch was not very welcoming for the Indomitable Lions. This time, CAF has brought Samuel Eto’o and his team down mid-flight. Eto’o had already unilaterally organized a preparatory meeting for the Cameroon-Kenya match in Douala, inviting administrative authorities and the Minister of Sports and Physical Education (Minsep). This bypassed the oversight body, which had previously convened a multisectoral meeting for the same purpose. During this meeting, Fécafoot had already announced the sale of tickets for the stadium, even before CAF had approved the venue.
