Did you know that miscommunication between FIFA staff led to the Indomitable Lions ban in 2006 and Puma cashing in?
Five time AFCON title winners, The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are a “bigger country” than you think they are, so when going against them, make sure you go back to history, so you are highly informed.
Before this year’s CAN competition, Cameroon had missed the opportunity to host the last edition of the competition, which was moved to Egypt, where Algeria walked home as winners. That year’s trophy was presented in Egypt by Samuel Eto’o, a way to console Cameroon? Don’t ask us about that! We all know the country wasn’t ready in terms of infrastructure. This is the year that the competition was even played in the summer.
Now, in 2022, Cameroon regained the chance to host the competition but was still fired with so much controversy, that the competition was still almost moved to some other country, but given that Cameroon had prepared hugely for this and all signs looking dazzling, FIFA and CAN were surely hinted about their drama with Cameroon and Puma In the early 2000s.
From 1990, Cameroon had become a strong footballing nation, especially following their heroics in Italy against Argentina, with Omam Biyick’s iconic goal, which shocked the Argentines of Maradona in this year’s competition. This added value to the name Cameroon, and if the country is being feard by many others in any football competition, it’s because the country earned its place as a football super power. It became one of the few African countries to advanced to the quarter finals Of The World Cup, are five times holders of the AFCON competition, two places behind Egypt.
Do you have a feeling FIFA [CAN] were extremely careful of not messing with the Lions in 2022, reason why they had to wait patiently not to fire a non-hosting communique on Cameroon this year. Let’s go back to history.
FIFA’S DRAMATIC FIGHT WITH CAMEROON
Between 2002 and 2006, Cameroon were being dragged by FIFA, on their third leg, when the holders of the 2000 AFCON would head to Mali to defend their title, which they still won anyway. Having won the last edition, they still went into the competition as favorites to win it. They equally needed an iconic shirt from their providers; Puma, who didn’t disappoint. Lo, they appeard in a short-sleeve, vest-like jersey which sparked arguably the biggest controversy with FIFA.
FIFA demanded that, Cameroon adjust the skit, in 2004, Cameroon who went to Tunisia as winners of the previous edition still, had attached a black sleeve, to their basketball-like shirt of 2004. This meant a middle finger to FIFA’s caution. This angered FIFA the more, who waited for Cameroon in 2006.
Remember that Cameroon didn’t qualify for the World Cup, 2006 in Germany ? Well, it was not without another controversy. FIFA slapped Cameroon with a $154,000 fine for their defiance in 2004 and deducted 6 (six) points from the qualification campaign. But you know you can trust Papa Paul’s country, anytime, anyday…
Cameroon’s clap-back via her shirt provider, Puma, was historical. Whoops! Puma pasted a dramatic lawsuit in German Court against the football governing body, and we are quite sure that FIFA didn’t see that coming.
According to Puma they had presented the shirt to both CAF and FIFA and they didn’t lay complains against the shirt, and only brought it later on. This was a lack of communication between the FIFA staff, but how was that Puma’s fault? Puma sued them for damages and buddy, it was a whooping sum of $2.41 million.
FIFA would backtrack, canceling the ban. Well, Cameroon went into the qualifiers as winners but didn’t qualify for the World Cup anyway. No World Cup, no problem, Winning a war against giant FIFA is like winning the World Cup!
Mind you, Cameroon is not new to football drama, especially when it concerns skits (shirts). They were the first to wear the all-in-one in Africa, especially the the sleeveless, which was the most controversial of them all.
In a nutshell, when going into trouble with this Green-Red-Yellow country, make sure you’ve done your thorough background check!
