Exclusive - Sévérin Rodrigue Onana: "Footballers should feel safe in Cameroon"

The valiant Cameroonian midfielder, Sévérin Rodrigue Onana, has made a grand return to MTN Elite One after a stint in Egypt with Ghazl El Mahalla.

Also read: Africa: Tunisia and Cameroon compete for the "future Mbappé"

The former AS Fortuna player signed, during the last winter transfer window, with the leader of the Cameroonian championship, Colombe Sportive du Dja et Lobo.

Between player torture, betting scandals, and age fraud, MTN Elite One has not been spared from scandals over the past few weeks.

To discuss all these issues and other current topics, Sévérin Rodrigue Onana kindly answered questions from the editorial team.

Why didn't you last long in the Egyptian league?

I encountered injury problems that prevented me from staying at my best level and lasting with Ghazl El Mahalla. In any case, I was fortunate to progress by playing in a fairly competitive league.

After two stints in Kuwait and Egypt, isn't your return to the Cameroonian league a step backward?

I wouldn't say it's a step backward, but rather a step to move forward because they say to jump further, you have to step back.

Who do you think are the players in the Cameroonian league who can join the "Indomitable Lions"?

There are so many players in our league who can play in the national team, like Nchindo John Idriss Nfor (striker for Yong Sport Academy) and many others.

The Parfait Djomeni case (Victoria United goalkeeper kidnapped and tortured by his club's president) has outraged the football world, what would you say about this?

The Djomeni case is delicate, I think footballers should be treated better than that... They should simply feel safe.

Is it common in Cameroon for players to be mistreated by their club presidents? Do you have a special message for Samuel Eto'o in this regard?

There are rare cases where we experience such situations... Honestly, no, because Mr. Eto'o, as a former footballer, knows what to do for the treatment of footballers.

How do you evaluate Samuel Eto'o's tenure at the head of FECAFOOT?

Mr. Eto'o's tenure brings something extra to the local championship. We would like it to continue and for the treatment to be even better than it currently is, and finally for Cameroonian football to regain its place on the world and continental stage.

Who is at fault, in your opinion, in the conflict between Samuel Eto'o and Marc Brys?

I don't think there is anyone at fault, we just need to advocate communication and understanding... Marc Brys should understand that the federation is above him and, therefore, follow the directives of his president.

Youssoufa Moukoko is accused of age fraud, why are these practices so common in Africa and particularly in Cameroon?

Youssoufa has been cleared by the courts... As for age fraud in Cameroon, I don't know much about it; I just hear about it, but I've never experienced a case where it's really discussed...

Who do you think is the best Cameroonian player playing in Europe?

The best Cameroonian in Europe is Bryan Mbeumo due to his consistency and statistics with his club Brentford FC in the Premier League.

Why did André Onana fall short during his time with Manchester United?

I wouldn't say André Onana fell short; we have seen many times where he kept the team alive in Premier League matches. I would say he is going through a rough patch and very soon he will be at the level we all know.

Can Frank Mafany Luma become the new Samuel Eto'o of Cameroonian football?

Let's give Frank time, we'll see what he brings out, but he will undoubtedly be a great figure in Cameroonian and African football.

Who is your favorite for the 2025 AFCON?

My favorite for AFCON? Of course, Cameroon, even though the tournament is likely to be competitive...

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.