Colombe du Dja et Lobo refused to continue playing in the 2025 Champions Trophy, denouncing "tailor-made" refereeing in favor of Panthère Sportive du Ndé. The club from the South region left the field to protest what it considers a blatant injustice, joining those who dare to break the omerta in Cameroonian football.
According to Alain Denis Ikoul's analysis, Colombe du Sud feels like a victim of constant harassment, with referees acting in a biased manner and opaque federal governance. This situation is said to be the culmination of a long conflict, especially since the club's management revealed at the General Assembly on February 1 that the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) owed them more than half a billion CFA francs. These unpaid sums, spread over four years, concern state subsidies and champion and cup winner bonuses.
The club had already expressed concerns about the refereeing during a previous league match. The last straw was a penalty deemed "totally imaginary" awarded to Panthère Sportive du Ndé, after officials from that club entered the referees' dressing room at half-time. Faced with this situation, Colombe chose to follow the advice of Samuel Eto'o, president of FECAFOOT, given during the AFCON final between Morocco and Senegal, and to say "no" to injustice.
By leaving the pitch, Colombe is taking a considerable risk, but is committed to fighting what it calls the "Republic of tailor-made champions", where victories are decided off the pitch, regardless of sporting merit. The club denounces corruption, biased refereeing and a lack of respect for the public, and wants to restore football's values of fairness and justice.
FECAFOOT reacted to the incident by indicating that information relating to the stoppage of the match had been passed on to the relevant committees for analysis. The body pointed out that only the referee's authority is empowered to assess technical decisions and that any challenge must follow the established regulatory procedures. FECAFOOT also stated that the decision relating to the validation of the match, the possible presentation of the trophy and disciplinary sanctions rests solely with the judicial bodies. The consequences for Colombe could be severe, ranging from financial penalties to suspension from competitions.
In February 2026, Colombe du Dja et Lobo accuses FECAFOOT of owing it nearly 200 million CFA francs, corresponding to several bonuses linked to trophies won between 2024 and 2025, as well as subsidies made available by the State of Cameroon.
Despite condemnation of the "anti-fair-play" attitude of leaving the pitch, many support Colombe's approach, believing that fair refereeing has become a chimera in Cameroonian football.
