The president of Cameroon’s volleyball federation has defended his team’s World Championship showing in Thailand, insisting the Indomitable Lionesses delivered one of their best-ever performances despite significant preparation challenges.
Bello Bourdanne, who heads FECAVOLLEY, spoke candidly during a press conference as the women’s senior national team collected their participation bonuses following their first-round exit from the 2025 World Championships. Like other African representatives, Cameroon failed to progress beyond the opening stages of the tournament.
“We Weren’t Going to Win, We Were Going to Learn”
Bourdanne pushed back against criticism of what some have labelled heavy defeats, arguing the scorelines don’t tell the full story. “I’m surprised you’re talking about thrashing because despite the absence of friendly matches, we consistently stayed above 16, 17 points,” he told assembled journalists.
“This participation, despite lack of optimal preparation, ranks among the best since Cameroon started competing in World Championships. I’d ask you journalists to look at the historical record of our participation and see past scores. We’ve had scores below 10 before.”
The federation chief revealed that planned preparation in Brazil – including friendlies against powerhouses Brazil and Cuba – fell through due to various constraints. This meant Cameroon’s opening match against Japan was effectively their first proper test.
Young Squad Gains Vital Experience
Bourdanne emphasised the developmental nature of the campaign, noting that most squad members were experiencing their first World Championship. The coach, too, was managing the team at this level for the first time.
“From the outset, I announced we weren’t going to win. We were going to learn and gain experience because most of this group was young,” he explained. “For the coach as well, it was a first, and above all, it was his first time discovering the players in action.”
The absence of preparation matches meant tactical adjustments had to be made on the fly. “He discovered through these first three matches and now knows which players perform better in training but struggle under match pressure,” Bourdanne added.
State Support Continues Despite Early Exit
Despite the early elimination, Bourdanne confirmed the team would receive their full participation bonuses, with state backing remaining strong. The players had already collected appearance bonuses before departure and were now receiving their participation and Olympic bonuses.
“The state has spared no effort since 2023 to ensure our national teams lack nothing,” he said, expressing gratitude for continued government support.
Federation Disputes and College Closure Controversy
The press conference also addressed swirling rumours about the closure of Johnson College’s sports programme. Bourdanne distanced his federation from any involvement, suggesting the controversy stemmed from disinformation campaigns by former officials.
“The Cameroon Volleyball Federation has no connection, near or far, to what might be happening at Johnson College,” he stated firmly. “We know it’s a college belonging to an EPC church, and I don’t know what agreements existed in the past.”
He described the timing of any closure announcement as “irresponsible,” coming just days before the school resumption, and suggested it was part of ongoing attempts to undermine his administration.
Looking Forward
Despite the World Championship disappointment, Bourdanne remained optimistic about Cameroon volleyball’s trajectory. He highlighted the federation’s recent achievements, including hosting successful African championships and maintaining strong international relationships.
“We’ve organised two international competitions in two years – the senior women’s African Nations Championship and the U20 women’s African Nations Championship,” he noted. “We’re the only recognised federation, working in complete serenity with the Cameroon state.”
The federation chief concluded with a message of unity, urging critics to focus on sport rather than politics. “Unfortunately, they’re tarnishing Cameroon’s image. They’d do well to show more fair play so that sport, and only sport, is put forward.”
As Cameroon’s volleyball programme continues its rebuilding phase, the focus now shifts to integrating promising U20 talent and ensuring better preparation for future international campaigns as the junior male team is set to take part at the African Nations Championship of their category in Egypt. The senior women team will rapidly go in camp ahead of the Islamic games and the Zone 4 Nation’s championship.
