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20 Years after: Remembering Marc-Vivien Foe: Celebrating the life and legacy of Cameroon star

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Monday marked the solemn occasion of the 20th anniversary of the tragic death of Cameroonian football star Marc-Vivien Foé.

As CAFOnline.com reflects on this tragic event, we pay tribute to a remarkable African footballer whose life was tragically cut short on June 26, 2003 during a FIFA Confederations Cup match in France.

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Football world has been paying tribute to the former Indomitable Lions midfielder including the legendary Cameroon striker Roger Milla.

We pay homage to Foe’s extraordinary playing career, his unwavering dedication to the Cameroon national team, his immense contributions to his clubs, as his enduring legacy both on and off the pitch continue to inspire the current generation.

 

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Rising Star:

Born on May 1, 1975, in Yaounde, Cameroon, Foe’s passion for football was evident from an early age and his career spanned over a decade.

His journey to stardom began in the 1990s in his native country, where he played for Canon Yaoundé. It was here that he honed his skills and caught the attention of international scouts.

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In 1994, he made a move to France, signing with Lens in Ligue 1. Foe’s time at Lens was a testament to his talent, as he displayed exceptional midfield prowess and became a vital cog in the team’s engine.

 

His performances did not go unnoticed, and in 1999, Foe made his move to West Ham United in the English Premier League where he spent just one season before returning to France to play for Lyon.

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The midfielder stayed in France for the next three years only punctured by a loan stint with Manchester City and he adapted seamlessly to the fast-paced and physical nature of English football.

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With the various clubs he played for, Foe became a fan favorite with his tenacity, skill, and ability to dictate play from midfield. This cemented his status as one of Cameroon’s most prominent football exports which caught the eyes of national selectors.

International Success:

It was on the international stage where Foe truly cemented his legacy. Representing the Indomitable Lions, Foe played a crucial role for his country in two World Cup appearances in 1994 and 2002 and played in all their group matches in both competitions.

His biggest impact was in Cameroon’s triumph at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, where they emerged as champions. Foe’s midfield dominance and leadership skills were on full display, earning him the admiration and respect of his team-mates and fans alike.

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Foe’s international career continued to flourish, culminating in his participation in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup in France. It was during this tournament that tragedy struck.

In a semi-final match against Colombia, Foe collapsed on the pitch, succumbing to a heart-related condition. The football world stood still in disbelief, mourning the loss of a gifted player and remarkable human being.

 

Legacy and Impact:

Beyond his achievements on the football field, Foé’s legacy extends far beyond his athletic prowess. He was revered for his humility, sportsmanship, and devotion to charitable causes.

Foé’s tragic passing prompted increased awareness and research into cardiac health in professional footballers, leading to advancements in medical protocols and screenings to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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The Marc-Vivien Foé Foundation, created by his family, strives to provide support and opportunities to underprivileged children in Cameroon through educational initiatives and sporting programs.

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.

Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.

Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.

He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.

With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.

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Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.

While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.

-Reuters

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Soon Cisse ceases to be Senegal’s Coach

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After 107 matches spanning nine years, Aliou Cisse will not have his contract renewed as Senegal coach, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Of the 107 matches, Cisse’s team won 70, drew 24 and lost 13.

But the impressive scorecard is not enough to impress his employers.

Thus, the end beckons for Cisse’s successful nine-year spell in charge of the side that included a first Africa Cup of Nations title and two World Cup qualifications.

He had been under increasing pressure after Senegal’s surprise last 16 exit at the 2023 Cup of Nations when they lost on penalties to hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

Senegal are unbeaten in six matches since then, but home draws with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burkina Faso, and criticism from certain quarters over their style of play, made up the mind of the country’s sports ministry, who fund the salary of the national team coach, that a change was needed.

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“The FSF would like to thank Aliou Cisse for his good collaboration and his brilliant results at the head of the various national selections that he has managed since his arrival in 2011 and wish him every success for the future,” the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said in a statement.

FSF added Cisse’s exit stemmed from a failure to fulfil the targets in his last contract, which expired at the end of August, which included victory at the 2023 Cup of Nations and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.

They also said the “regression of our national team in the FIFA rankings and the risk of disaffection between our national team and the Senegalese (public)” had played a role.

The FSF will appoint an interim technical team to lead the side in Cup of Nations qualifiers against Malawi at home on Oct. 11 and away four days later.

Cisse, 48, was captain of Senegal when they reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup with what is heralded as a golden generation of players.

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He briefly had a spell as caretaker coach of the national team in 2012, but took over full time three years later.

He led Senegal to 2018 and 2022 World Cup qualification, making the last 16 in the latter before losing to England. They were beaten in the final of the 2019 Cup of Nations by Algeria.

The side made up for that disappointment when they beat Egypt in the final two years later to be crowned African champions for the first time.

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Why  FIFA banned Samuel Eto’o

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Always in the news for bad reasons, Samuel Eto’o has again made global headlines. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned the former striker and the current president of the Cameroon Football Federation.

He is banned from attending Cameroon’s matches for the next six months for violating conduct rules during the recent U-20 Women’s World Cup, where his national team faced Brazil in the round of 16.

According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, Eto’o was found to have breached articles 13 (“Offensive behaviour and violations of fair play principles”) and 14 (“Misconduct of players and officials”) of FIFA’s Disciplinary Code.

The sanction stems specifically from the match between Brazil and Cameroon, held on September 11 in Bogotá, Colombia. As a result, Eto’o will be prohibited from attending any matches involving Cameroon’s national teams, both male and femaleacross all age groups.

“Mr Eto’o has been notified today, the date on which the sanction comes into force,” stated the FIFA press release.

This is not the first time Eto’o has faced controversy. He previously drew attention for his behavior towards players and national team coach Marc Brys, whom he allegedly threatened in front of cameras if his directives were not followed.

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During the Qatar World Cup, the former Real Madrid, Mallorca, and Barcelona player made headlines again after assaulting a fan who filmed him outside a stadium after a match.

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