Sport

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have left for Egypt, after financial crisis delayed their departure to the games’ village.

Reports say the players were promised 40 million FCFA each as bonuses for taking part in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, but tensions grew when the bonuses per player were later reduced to half that amount.

Some football analysts say reducing or delaying players’ incentives during competitions is not strange to Cameroon. In 2014, the team missed their initial flight to the World Cup in Brazil owing to unpaid competition dues.

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Meantime, the lead trainer of the Lions Clarence Seedorf says his foot soldiers are in high spirit, and revealed that PSG forward Tchoupo-Moting will be captain of the tournament . The Dutch coach described his captain as a tactical leader, who can best coordinate his mates at the football showpiece.

The defending Champions Cameroon will start the competition next Tuesday, when they face Guinea Bissau. The opening match of the all-African fiesta is built for the Cairo stadium between host Egypt, and Zimbabwe later at 9:00pm tonight.