The 2025 Cameroonian Ballon d'Or ceremony, held on February 27, 2026, at the Yaoundé Congress Hall, was disrupted by a power outage. This incident has led to an investigation and the questioning of the Director of Electricity for Yaoundé.
The national gendarmerie has officially opened an investigation into the incident, requesting the director of the Yaoundé Electricity Regulatory Agency to provide a detailed report justifying the power outage. A notification dated April 13, 2026, issued by the Commander of the Centre Gendarmerie Legion, Colonel Nguele Joseph, instructs the official to submit a file containing supporting documents related to the outages that occurred at the Congress Hall and the Mont Fébé Hotel on February 27 and March 22, 2026, at approximately 11 p.m. and 10 p.m. respectively.
The incident sparked outrage on social media, with some suggesting an attempted sabotage of the ceremony, while others denounced a lack of respect for the First Lady, Chantal Biya, who was present at the event. The ceremony was intended to celebrate the best talents in Cameroonian football, including Serge Daura, crowned Ballon d'Or winner for men, and Lys Fraîche Tiwa, winner of the Ballon d'Or in the Guinness Super League for women.
Serge Daura, a striker for Gazelle FA, was honored by First Lady Chantal Biya and received the keys to a Jetour car. He surpassed Boris Mfoumou and Nsanfeu Konrad to win the title. Daura had an exceptional season with 15 goals and 11 assists, earning him the title of top scorer and revelation of the season. Lys Fraîche Tiwa, who also won the title of top scorer in the Guinness Super League with 22 goals in 19 matches, also received a vehicle.
The power outage has highlighted the infrastructural challenges facing Cameroon, particularly regarding the stability of its electricity grid. Similar incidents have affected the country, underscoring the need to improve the reliability of the power supply, especially during events of national importance. The investigation opened by the gendarmerie aims to shed light on the causes of this interruption and determine responsibilities.
