Tombi Leaves Office as FECAFOOT President after FIFA Outburst

Mr Tombi A Roko Sidiki has officially left office as President of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT. President Tombi issued his leave statement during a press conference held Saturday 26 August 2017 at Somatel Hotel in Yaoundé.

It was his first appearance after World’s football governing body, FIFA, on Wednesday 23 August, announced the creation of a normalization committee for FECAFOOT.

Mr Tombi told pressmen he is adhering to FIFA’s decision especially at a time his country needs no distraction in its commitment to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. 

"Nous prenons acte de la mise sur pied d’un Comité de normalisation…Nous adhérons sans condition et nous l’acceptons de bonne grâce…,” Tombi said in the French language. 

Consequently, Iya Mohammed’s successor who has been ruling Cameroon’s football governing body for the past 23 months leaves office, setting the stage for an imminent normalization committee.

Many Cameroonians are happy with FIFA's move but are worried. Their worry pertains to the uncertainty surrounding Cameroon's 2019 AFCON hosting right, and that the decision was long overdue.

Mr Tombi face-to-face with the press

Tombi who had served as Secretary General of FECAFOOT for close to 17 years said he was giving way so that the proposed reparation body comes in with measures that will restore serenity.

“..mesure contribuera à ramener la sérénité dans le football camerounais…”

The move came hours after the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Pierre Ishmael Bidoung Mpkatt granted a press conference in Yaoundé on the same issue. 

Accompanied by Communication Minister Issa Tchiroma at the Media Centre of the Omnisport Stadium in Yaoundé, Mr Bidoung Mpkatt said government would collaborate with FIFA  to sanitize FECAFOOT, and that the issue would not deter government from its commitment to host AFCON 2019. 

However, Mr Tombi did not disclose whether he will stand as candidate next year when the stage is set. FIFA has set February 28, 2018 as deadline for fresh elections to be conducted.

Mr Tombi came to power following elections conducted on September 28, 2015 in Yaoundé. However a club President, Abdouraman Ahmadu who found the electoral process fraudulent started filing protests to respective quarters of command for dissolution.

Mr Abdouraman protested alongside former Cameroon goalkeeper Bell Antoine, Emmanuel Loga, Brigitte Mebande, Essomba Eyenga and others.

About two months later the Conciliatory and Arbitration Chamber of the national Olympic Committee of Cameroon (CCA) ruled out the elections, urging the country’s Supreme Court to implement the decisions. 

Cameroonians are anxious to know those who will constitute the normalization committee.