With few days to the all-important Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier in Uyo, Aka Ibom State against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Cameroonian football has been plunged further into crisis after FIFA confirmed it had appointed a Normalisation Committee to run the troubled association in the country.
FIFA said the Committee would take over the day-to-day running of the Cameroonian Football Federation’s (FECAFOOT) affairs and would organise elections for a new Executive Committee by the end of February.
The decision taken by the Bureau of FIFA’s ruling Council was made “following recent failed attempts by FIFA to reconcile the football stakeholders in Cameroon and overcome the current impasse”, world football’s governing body said in a statement.
It is the second time in four years that FIFA has been forced to intervene in the FECAFOOT.
The governing body also appointed a Normalisation Committee to oversee the organisation in 2013 due to Government interference.
“This decision comes in connection with the confirmation by the CAS of the decision of the Chambre de Conciliation et d’Arbitrage du Comité Olympique et Sportif du Cameroun to annul the electoral process leading to the election of the current FECAFOOT Executive Committee in 2015 and following recent failed attempts by FIFA to reconcile the football stakeholders in Cameroon and overcome the current impasse,” a FIFA statement read.
The move from FIFA comes as Cameroon remains at risk of being stripped of the hosting rights for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.