The Indomitable Lions justified their standoff with an open letter to the public on Friday.
According to Caf rules, Cameroon's players were supposed to have arrived in Egypt on Friday morning.
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) kicks off on Friday night with a match between hosts Egypt and Zimbabwe.
However, the Cup holders are still at a hotel in their country’s capital city of Yaounde, waiting for more money.
The players are protesting the bonuses offered to them by the Cameroon government. They are demanding 40 million francs (€61,000) each, whereas the authorities say they can’t pay more than 20 million francs (€30,500), which has been wired to their respective bank accounts.
The Clarence Seedorf led team had their sendoff at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium on Thursday evening and were then set to depart for the airport. However, they chose to go to their Mont Febe hotel, according to state television station CRTV .
Mediations from the Football Federation (Fecafoot), Sports Minister and other state dignitaries including legend Samuel Eto’o failed.
In an open letter which is signed by all 23 players to the general public, the players explained the following points:
1) Most of us paid fully or partially our air tickets from our clubs to the team’s camp for the Afcon preparations.
2) During camping in Madrid and Doha, no player, among the final 23 or the excluded 14, was paid participation premium.
3) Our camping in Doha, our trip to Yaounde and the eventual trip to Cairo were all sponsored by Qatar.
4) A presidential decree dating back to 2014 states that all bonuses, participation fees for friendly matches and camping must be paid to the players before the start of a major tournament like the Afcon.
5) We have even accepted a 25% slash in our regular bonuses ahead of the upcoming Afcon but unfortunately, they are not honouring this.
6) We deplore the poor communication between the players and football officials of this country.
7) This disorganisation led to the refusal of players like Joel Matip, Stephane Mbia and Nicolas Nkoulou to come to camp.
8) We wish that the future generation of players would not suffer a similar disregard as us and those who preceded us.
ciydilos
124
When is this going to end, authorities in our African football are always doing this. You might as well find out that they booked themselves in 5 star hotels in Egypt while the stars of the show, the players will be booked in substandard hotels. The mere fact that the players paid their own airfares shows their patriotism and willingness to be there.
couacnpst
65
pls let's always be factual and leave sentiments aside. let's support these players cos they are fighting for what is right and just. Most if not all African countries have failed their citizens. I don't want to believe that the Cameroonian government don't have the money to pay the players in full, if that's the case then some persons in the government have embezzled the money. let's fight corruption, let's stand against corruption. enough is enough. if the players go and play the competition in the name of patriotism, the same thing will repeat itself again. the government itself is not patriotic else you won't be owing. its like not paying salaries of workers and you expect them to perform. I rest my case.
JosephSam
53
Sad and pathetic This happens in our beloved continent But come to think of it, the money these players are paid seriously a professor in the country working as a government appointee doesn’t get half of. Just wondering why our parents forced us to school when we could have made billions. Besides they play about 8 matches maximum Lol
kakekprsy
53
Football associations will never learn. by the time the truth comes out, it would be discovered that some officials had pocketed the money meant for the players. I support the players.
vomcikmrt
53
The corrupt mederois government is the cause after failing meet the preparations to host they can't even adequate organize and pay their own players.They are using the money to fund the army to repress and kill oppositions all over the country.They should not even be in this tourmament.They were supposed to loose their automatic place as hosts bc of their failure host.
Keddikmnty
52
This is the kind of revolution needed in Africa. We must stand up against corruption and the ineptitude of our leaders
Bazbcrsy
51
when it came to some ones wages and benefit,keep alway that nonsense call patriotism,a country that spend money in buying weapons and plaque with corrupt offcials,do not forget those players have their projects and humanitarian activities to meet up with,when government official siphoned funds do the think of patriotism,common guys
Jisabinpsy
51
If you can't pay a simple flight to defend ur own country, what else can u do for ur country? How much did Roger Miller and all other ancient players make in their whole career? Such thing should be a shame to the so called players who think they are defending the country. At least let's for once ask our selves what are we doing to make the nation Cameroon grow, not what Cameroon can do to us so that we can grow. You guys even have the privilege to own 35.5milion and you are refusing. Go to the north West and south west of Cameroon who lact 50frs to buy a cup of garri and eat. That's all u guys can offer, nothing more. Ur stars never shine more than African, because u play for the money and not ur country. SHAME TO THE CAMEROON NATIONAL TEAM. when next to want to lay a complain, it should be something reasonable, not such CHEAP POINTS OF YOURS.
xtremeCR7
51
Ohhh Cameroon,my dear country. corruption has now taken all over the nation..from the oldest to the youngest. God please help us out.. God bless my country
tunde7
47
the government is a scam, all the know is to use money to buy arms to kill the English Cameroonians now they don't even have money to pay professional players. It's been 3 years that the French military have been killing and destroy homes in the English part of Cameroon and the whole world is silent. #freesoutherncameroon .
cuebdeklor
40
this is very bad of them.why can they give them the money ,this is people are the defending champion for crying out loud ,they needed to be honored,most so many countries hasn't lifted the trophy before and they are very poor ,but yet they made the trip ,and still meet up with the players demandinh
Diaadkmsz
38
is this the first time Cameroon players allowance not paid, or being delayed? ehm AFCON is a major competition abrupt staying out of it would raise eyebrows and signal some questions about the competency of sports officials especially the coach. In my opinion many Africans countries go through these kind of things not always hundred percent done before players pose for major tournament. I don't know what consequences would it have if you guys totally refused to turn up