The dismissal of Antonio Conceiçao in 2022 continues to cause a stir within the Cameroonian government. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, Minister of Sports and Physical Education, has expressed his continued disagreement with this decision, calling it "abusive" and costly for the State.
Mouelle Kombi stated during the "Présidence Actu" program that Conceiçao was engaged in a "logic of reconstruction and successful refoundation of our national team" and that his dismissal was contrary to the will of the State. He deplored the fact that the State had to spend more than 1.2 billion CFA francs in severance pay.
The Minister stressed that Conceiçao's record was generally positive and that his promising work had been abruptly interrupted. This media outing suggests that Mouelle Kombi would have preferred the Portuguese coach to continue his work at the helm of the Indomitable Lions.
Conceiçao's dismissal, which occurred after the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) organized in Cameroon, was seen as a unilateral decision by Samuel Eto'o, President of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT). Conceiçao had been replaced by Rigobert Song before the end of his contract, resulting in a considerable expense for the State.
This case highlights the persistent tensions between the Ministry of Sports and FECAFOOT regarding the management of national football. Disagreements over coaching choices and financial governance have often fueled friction between the two institutions. The Minister of Sports had even asked Samuel Eto'o to negotiate with Antonio Conceiçao before terminating his contract.
While the two entities display a willingness to collaborate, deep divisions remain, undermining the serenity around the Indomitable Lions. Beyond the financial aspects, it is the stability of the technical staff and the consistency of decisions that are at stake.
Mouelle Kombi's statements revive the debate on the governance of Cameroonian football and the relevance of the choices made at the head of the national technical staff. It remains to be seen whether the Minister also doubts the performance of Marc Brys, the current coach of the Indomitable Lions.
