CAF has now issued a firm demand to the Samuel Eto'o-led Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) over an intense bust-up that took place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Cameroon national team was marred in controversy during the most recent AFCON, with there having been numerous negative reports centred around the side.
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Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana grabbed headlines for his late arrival at the tournament, meeting up with the rest of the squad less than 24 hours before their first match.
This was compounded by reports that then-head coach Rigobert Song was placed under immense pressure to take control of the Onana situation, which eventually led to the shot-stopper being dropped for the final group game against The Gambia.
To make matters worse, it was during that particular game that even more drama unfolded, with it later revealed that a dressing room bust-up occurred on that day.
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With the Indomitable Lions securing a spot in the round of 16 after beating The Gambia 3-2, members of the Cameroon delegation went to the locker room to congratulate the players for making it past the group phase.
Things came to a head, though, when the president of the National Union of Footballers of Cameroon, Geremi Njitap, wanted to address the team but was disrupted by Eto'o's security staff, who demanded that he leave the dressing room immediately.
An argument allegedly ensued between Njitap and the security personnel, with the team said to have been left in shock at the conflict that almost came to blows.
In the aftermath of the altercation, FECAFOOT proceeded to ban Njitap from any football-related activity for a period of five years, prompting the former Chelsea and Real Madrid star to take the matter to FIFA and CAF.
On Monday, CAF officially intervened on the matter, requesting an explanation for the situation given that it took place at their tournament, as per Foot Africa.
A statement from the organisation on Monday read: "Following the match between Cameroon and Gambia during the group stage of the Totalenergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d'Ivoire 2023, Mr. NJITAP allegedly entered without authorisation into the locker rooms reserved for the national team of Cameroon.
"For this reason, and in view of the information which has reached us, FECAFOOT is preparing to take measures which would potentially hinder the exercise of an activity linked to football for the person in question.
"Given that the incident reported occurred during an official CAF competition, the Confederation of African Football would have exclusive jurisdiction to hear this matter. If this were the case, we ask you to cease any procedure that may be in progress and to transmit to CAF all the necessary documents and probative elements relevant to the case."
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With Cameroon having appointed Marc Brys as their new head coach – who was appointed in controversial circumstances – following the AFCON, their next matches are 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde and Angola, with the team currently top of Group D.
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