Key Happenings in 2017
Local
SW buries Unsung Lone Anglophone AFCON Referee
Former international referee and former President of the Southwest Regional, Wacka Ikuka Michael, died on Friday June 30, 2017, at the Buea Regional Hospital after a protracted illness.
He was buried on Saturday 12 August in Limbe .
Pa Wacka’s death came 25 days after the legendary football commentator, Zachary Nkwo, bowed out.
The Late Michael Ekuka Wacka was the first Anglophone First Division Referee, the first Anglophone International Referee, the first and only Anglophone to referee a match at the AFCON, an executive member of the pioneer West Cameroon referees Association, and the last appointed Southwest president of FECAFOOT.
Cameroon’s iconic sports commentator Zachary Nkwo dies
Cameroon’s all-time best football commentator passed away aged 69, at the Mount Mary Hospital in Buea, early on Sunday the 4th of June, 2017.
The man with the golden voice was laid to rest on Saturday 5th August 2017 in Buea.
His funeral Mass took place at the Saints Peter & Paul University Parish Molyko.
The Mass was co-officiated by two Bishops: the Bishop of the Diocese of Kumbo, Monseigneur George Nkuo & his colleague of the Mamfe Diocese, Nkea Andrew.
The people of Buea can still track a spectacle of his commentary in 2002, when Canon Sportive of Yaoundé descended on the Omnisport Stadium in Molyko, Buea, to challenge Mount Cameroon FC in a League match.
As usual Uncle Zach took his audience on a sumptuous ride to the end of the 1-1 stalemate between Le Mekok Megonda and Lava Boys.
Fon Echikiye said a competition or stadium be named after his late mentor Zachary Nkwo.
The Cameroon Radio and Television employee was speaking to reporters shortly after Tokoto’s highly-attended funeral Mass at the Saints Peter & Paul University Parish Molyko.
Former Cameroon referee Bengu Thomas said Zachary Tokoto Nkwo had no equal in terms of football commentaries.
National
Eding Sport won the 2016-2017 MTN Elite 1
Created in 2012, Eding Sport of the Lekie made history by winning the 2016-2017 league 1 campaign in Cameroon.
Eding Sport played 34 games earning 63 points ahead of Coton Sport FC with 58 and APEJES with 54.
Racing FC, Lion Blessé and Canon Sportif finished in the drop zone.
Yaoundé 2 won the 2016-2017 MTN Elite 2
Newcomers Yaoundé 2 also made history by winning the 2016-2017 league 2 campaign in Cameroon.
After 34 games, Yaoundé II FC finished top of the league with 60 points. AS Fortuna were runners up after getting same 60 points. Fovu Club completed the top three with 58 point.
Panthère Security FC, Botafogo FC and Douala Athletic Club 2000 were relegated.
New Stars Crowned 2017 Cameroon Cup Winners December 10
News Stars of Douala grabbed the 2017 football cup of Cameroon in a final presided over by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya on the 10th of December 2017.
New Stars beat former cup holders, UMS of Loum, 1-0 to lift the most prestigious trophy.
President Faustin Domkeu’s side lifted the trophy for the first time since their inception in 2008.
FIFA Appoints New Normalisation Committee for FECAFOOT
On the 23rd of August 2017, FIFA decided to appoint a normalisation committee for the Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT).
The move was prompted by a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to annul the electoral process leading to the election of Tombi A Roko Sidiki in 2015.
Consequently on Friday 8 September 2017, a 4-man FIFA/CAF delegation appointed members of the normalisation committee of FECAFOOT.
The five (5) members appointed were:
-Happi Dieudonne (President)
-Ambomo Marcelle (Vice President)
Members:
-Bellet Edimo
-Abdou Oumerou and
-Kevin Njomo
FECAFOOT stops regional/divisional leagues
On Monday 11th December, 2017, FECAFOOT put an abrupt stop to all regional and divisional leagues of the 2016-17 football season.
The decision was contained in a communiqué signed by President Dieudonne Hapi on the 4th of December 2017.
According to the document, competitions continuing after the Cup of Cameroon often seriously disrupted the next season.
He further stated the urgent need to guard against the cancellation of future FECAFOOT elections by CAF and FIFA, build credibility as well as harmonize various championships.
Consequently, all the regional and divisional leagues which were either on-going or ended have been cancelled.
In the South West Region, the much awaited mini-inter pool final pitting Opopo to Maumu Youth became a non-event.
The national inter pool competition (qualifiers to Professional League 2) involving ten regional champions was also affected.
Cameroon winning the African Nations Cup
Cameroon came from behind to beat Egypt 2-1 and seal a fifth Africa Cup of Nations in a thrilling final on the fifth of February 2017.
Substitute Vincent Aboubakar swept in the winner two minutes from time. Nicolas Nkoulou had earlier equalised for Cameroon.
By beating Egypt 2-1, Cameroon returned to the continental summit, after a 15-year wait.
World Cup 2018: Cameroon eliminated by Nigeria
On the 4th of September, 2017, African champions Cameroon were eliminated from the race to the 2018 world cup finals in Russia after a return leg 1-1 draw with Nigeria in Yaoundé.
Nigeria took the lead after thirty minutes, and Cameroon equalised at the 75th minute through a penalty.
The result meant Cameroon had just three points from four matches and could no longer finish top of Group B.
AFRICA
Madagascar FA chief Ahmad elected as new Caf president
On the 16th of March, 2017, Madagascar Football Association chief Ahmad was elected CAF president, ending Issa Hayatou's 29-year reign.
Ahmad won 34 of the 54 votes in the election, which was held in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.
The result meant a change in leadership for the first time since Cameroonian Hayatou took charge in 1988.
Ahmad became only the seventh Caf president in the body's 60-year history.
Africa Cup of Nations moved to June and July and expanded to 24 teams
On the 20th of July 2017, CAF announced that the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in June and July.
The tournament was usually held in January and February, causing disputes with European clubs who had to release players in the middle of the season.
The 2019 event in Cameroon will be contested by 24 teams, instead of 16.
The changes were rubber-stamped by the CAF executive committee in a meeting in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
Africa's flagship sporting event has featured 16 teams since 1996.
African Champions League final: Wydad beat Ahly to lift trophy
In November, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco became African champions for a second time after defeating Al Ahly of Egypt 1-0 in the second leg of the African Champions League final.
Walid El Karty scored the only goal on 69 minutes to give the home team a 2-1 aggregate triumph after they forced a 1-1 draw in the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
The victory bridged a 25-year gap for Wydad, who conquered Africa for the first time in 1992 when they defeated Al Hilal of Sudan.
Mazembe win Confed Cup over SuperSport
In November, TP Mazembe beat SuperSport United 2-1 on aggregate to capture the CAF Confederation Cup over two legs.
The second leg of the final ended 0-0 while the first leg, played in Lubumbashi, ended 2-1 in Mazembe's favour.
The team from the Democratic Republic of Congo won their third continental trophy in years.
Morocco replace Kenya as 2018 CHAN hosts
In October, Kenya lost the rights to stage the 2018 African Nations Championship for failing to meet Caf's requirements.
Morocco replaced Kenya as hosts of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The decision to move the competition was made at an emergency Caf executive committee meeting in Lagos, Nigeria.
Caf unanimously decided to give Morocco the tournament ahead of Equatorial Guinea.
The tournament for locally-based players is scheduled to take place in January and February 2018.
George Weah wins Liberia presidential election
Former Tonerre and AC Milan striker George Weah just won the Liberia presidential run-off.
The former world player of the year took 61.5 percent of the vote from 98.1 percent of ballots cast.
Weah beat Vice President Joseph Boakai, who took 38.5 per cent of the vote.
It means Weah will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to become president next month, the country's first democratic transition since 1944.
He was raised by his grandmother in one of the worst slums of Liberia's capital Monrovia, but he went on to have a glittering football career in the 1990s.
He played for a number of different teams in Africa before being transferred to Monaco where he was coached by Arsene Wenger.
He is the first and only African player to have won both FIFA's World Player of the Year trophy and the Ballon d'Or.
This is the second time he has run for the presidency in Liberia, the first being in 2005.
He formed the Congress for Democratic Change but was defeated by current president.
Then in 2011 he came second as a vice presidential candidate.
He is currently senator for Montserrado County in Liberia after being elected in 2014.
He won 38.4% of votes in the first round on 10 October, while his opponent Boakai came second with 28.8%.
WORLD
Germany secure first Confederations Cup
On the 2nd of July, 2017, World champions Germany secured a first Confederations Cup title after victory against Copa America winners Chile in a final in St Petersburg.
Lars Stindl hit the first-half winner following a mistake by Marcelo Diaz.
Neymar signs for Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona
In August, Neymar completed his world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona for £200m.
Barcelona confirmed payment for Neymar's 222m euros buyout clause had been received, despite the transfer hitting a stumbling block when La Liga refused to accept the release clause.
Neymar signed a five-year contract at the Parc des Princes.
Real Madrid win Champions League Final 4-1 in Cardiff
On the 4th of June 2017, Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1 to retain the Champions League Final at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named man of the match after scoring two goals and becoming the first player to score in three finals.
The win was Real's 12th European Cup - five more than any other side.
They also became the first team to defend the title since the competition was revamped in 1992.
Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi to FIFA Best Men's player award
In October, Cristiano Ronaldo was named Best FIFA Men's Player ahead of Lionel Messi for the second successive year.
The Real Madrid forward was presented with the 2017 award by Diego Maradona and former Brazil striker Ronaldo at the London ceremony after beating off competition from Messi and the world's most expensive player, Neymar.
FIFA introduced the 'Best Football Awards' last season after splitting with France Football magazine, which meant they had to end their association with the Ballon d'Or award.
In the same vein,
On the 8th of December, Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Lionel Messi's record of five Ballon d'Or awards after claiming the 2017 prize in Paris.
Messi finished runner up for the second consecutive year.
Real won the 2017 FIFA Club WC after beating Gremio 1-0
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