By Harry Awurumibe
Unknown to the world, before the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-finals clash between Nigeria and Cameroon was played at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca on Sunday, the plot to eliminate the 10-time African champions from the competition was masterminded by the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) Samuel Eto’o, Prompt News Online reports.
Available reports have revealed that the former Cameroonian football star player who took office in December 2021 and won re-election to a second four-year term in November 2025, has been waiting yo use this WAFCON to relaunch her nation’s senior women’s team to continental reckoning had announced that the quarter-finals encounter on Sunday will prove that the Indomitable Lionesses are back to Africa’s elite circle.
Ahead of the Sunday’s clash which held the WAFCON semi-finals and 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup tickets, Eto’o had told the international media in Morocco that Cameroon would answer all the questions regarding Nigeria’s superiority on the pitch rather than on paper ratings.
True to his boast, in the media titled: “Eto’o Prefers The Pitch to Decide and Not Paper Rating”, the pitch did decide the match as Cameroon defeated Nigeria by a lone goal scored early in the game by defender Myriam Nyadjou who beat reigning African Best Goalkeeper Chiamaka Cynthia Nnadozie in goal for Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a very great nation in African Women’s Football and deserves all our respect. We know we are not the favourites, and, in fact, we never really were in this competition. But we also know what we want to achieve,”
”We have a game plan prepared by the staff and we work everyday to progress, both in training and during video meetings or even in our exchanges amongst the players.
“We know that every match is different. Football always has surprises in store. At this stage of the competition, there will inevitably be a winner. Nigeria has great qualities, but a match is played on the pitch. One thing is certain – we will give everything on the pitch”, Eto’o told reporters before the match.
In deed, Cameroon’s victory over Nigeria could be attributed to the personal involvement of the 4-time African Player of the Year Award Winner in the activities of the Indomitable Lionesses and all the national teams of Cameroon.
Like Eto’o, President of Royal Moroccan Football Federation
(FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa has in the past 12 years transformed women’s football in Morocco by undertaking the payment of the wages and salary of league players and officials by the federation.
The huge investments in women’s football in the Kingdom has ensured that a greater percentage of the Moroccan national team players are plying their trades in the local league.
..Awurumibe is Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist
READ ALSO:
- 2027 AFCON Qualifiers: Nigeria Struggles As Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, Rwanda lead Groups
- Cyber-Fraud: EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of 431 Phones from Chinese Convicts
- Beach Soccer AFCONQ: Sand Eagles prepare for Ghana clash with Senegal friendlies
- Indian hospital features Ex-Head of State Abdulsalami in knee surgery advert
- BREAKING: Tinubu to address Nigerians at 66th Independence anniversary
