Cameroon SAMBO Cup Brings Together the Country's Top Athletes in Yaoundé

The BEAC Complex in the Mvan district of Yaoundé hosted the Cameroon SAMBO Cup on August 29. A total of 130 athletes from 14 clubs took to the mats, representing 10 regions of the country – from Maroua in the north to Buea and Ebolowa in the southwest and south.

Medals were contested across four disciplines: Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO for men and women. Specialists noted that from the very first bouts, it was clear the technical level of Cameroonian athletes had risen significantly. The stands were packed throughout the competition, with fans cheering their athletes on without restraint.

A Ticket to the National Team

For many competitors, the Cameroon Cup is the season's main event and a chance to catch the eye of the national team's coaching staff. Njuma Raul, an athlete from the Southwest region, told reporters that the federation is giving athletes more and more opportunities to prove themselves at both national and international level – through the national tournament, the Cameroon Cup, and the upcoming ECCAS Open International SAMBO Tournament. According to him, SAMBO is gaining strength in the region, with Cameroonian athletes delivering strong results on the international stage.

Champion in the under-98 kg category Joast Ange Steph said that competing in the Cup is an opportunity to secure a place on the national team and go on to compete at continental and world level, including the upcoming international tournament in Yaoundé. Under-65 kg winner Andela Biloua Cécile Ginette said she was returning to training the day after the Cup, aiming to earn her spot on the national team: "My opponent in the final was no easy match, but I'm happy with the win. I never stop training – you never know what's coming next."

Tournament Champions

In the team standings, the champion titles went to La Sueur Épargne le Sang club in the men's competition and Amasia club in the women's competition. Also competing for medals were Académie des Arts, Air Force Djoumbé Penja, Black Spider Academy, Booms SAMBO Club, Champion Sport, Ebo Dance Angels SAMBO Club, Elite Martial Arts Academy, Force Armée et Police (FAP), IUC Sambo, Maroua SAMBO Club, Team Amasia SAMBO, and the University of Buea SAMBO Club.

Champion club La Sueur Épargne le Sang was founded by Combat SAMBO world champion Maxwell Njantu Nana. Now based in the United Kingdom, he admits that running the club from a distance isn't easy: "I have two coaches helping me – one for wrestling and one for striking – who work with the athletes every single day. That's why I regularly travel back to Cameroon to pass on my knowledge in person and push the athletes to be the best, not just in Cameroon, but in the world."

He added that the results his athletes showed on the mat were a direct reflection of the work done during the training camp.

Federation and Ministry Reaction

Head coach of the Cameroon national SAMBO team Seidou Njimolou noted the rise in competitive level and the quality of the bouts: "We saw diversity across every category, we witnessed quality contests, we discovered newcomers, and we saw the strength of experienced athletes who keep improving. Overall, we're on the right track, and the best is yet to come." He added that the tournament also served as a selection stage ahead of the upcoming international event in Yaoundé – the ECCAS Open International SAMBO Tournament – with each athlete learning their position on the team following the training camp.

President of the Cameroon SAMBO Federation François Mbassi said he was satisfied with the results of the tournament, noting that several of the 14 participating clubs were represented by current world champions who had come in person to support young athletes and share their experience.

The ceremony was attended by Marcial Alain Mbo'otya'a, representing the Cameroonian Minister of Sports and Physical Education, accompanied by federation-ministry liaison Prosper Mbella. The ministry representative praised the high level of the finalists and said SAMBO is becoming a discipline capable of rivaling football in popularity in the country, passing on words of support to the athletes on behalf of the minister.

Officiating and Atmosphere

Organizers stated that the tournament was held in accordance with international rules and the officiating regulations of the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS). The panel of referees was led by international SAMBO referee François Nama, assisted by a team of continental category "C" referees.

What's Next

The national federation is already preparing for its next major event. The ECCAS Open International SAMBO Tournament will take place in Yaoundé on September 19. According to François Mbassi, the Cameroon national team is currently undergoing an external training camp, to be followed by an internal one. Twelve countries have already confirmed their participation – the tournament is open not only to ECCAS member states but to all African federations, serving as a platform for African SAMBO athletes to exchange experience.