The 2026 Champions Trophy, pitting Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo against Panthère du Ndé, witnessed an abrupt and controversial end at the military stadium in Yaoundé. What was initially seen as a celebration of Cameroonian football turned into a scene of chaos when the players of Colombe Sportive made the decision to leave the field in protest.
The triggering incident occurred in the 64th minute when referee Biel Kolondo awarded a penalty to Panthère du Ndé, judging that a foul had been committed by defender Cédric Djomo on an opposing player. In response to this decision, Richard Towa, the coach of Colombe, immediately asked his players to leave the field, recalling a similar scene that occurred during a Senegalese match.
After an interruption of several hours, and following negotiations, the Colombe players returned to the field. However, the situation took a new turn when, after consultation with the refereeing body, the captain of Colombe, Randy, was sent off, an event that marked a point of no return in the match.
This match was highly anticipated, especially since the two teams had already faced each other in the final of the Cameroon Cup on December 14, 2025, where Panthère triumphed on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo, champion of Cameroon in 2025, saw this Champions Trophy as an opportunity to take revenge.
The incident tarnishes the image of Cameroonian football and raises questions about refereeing and fair play. The governing bodies of Cameroonian football will have to closely examine the events that occurred during this match in order to take appropriate measures and prevent such incidents from happening again in the future. The outcome of this Champions Trophy remains in suspense, pending official decisions regarding the validity of the result and possible disciplinary sanctions.
