Colombe: Beyond Qualification Euphoria

C ameroonians have been celebrating the qualification of Colombe of Dja and Lobo for the prestigious group phase of this year’s CAF Champions League. Overpowering Senegal’s top tier champion, Teungueth FC, in Yaounde (1-0) on Sunday October 25, 2026 to qualify on a (3-0) aggregate score after their (2-0) win in the first leg, makes the victory even sweeter. Enough reason to send their fans and the country’s sporting public into ecstasy. Legitimately so given the dismal performances that have characterised the country’s participation in recent editions of the continental tourney. The last Cameroonian club to attain this stage of the continental competition was Coton Sport of Garoua in 2023. Sailing through to the group phase is synonymous to getting to the elite level, with all that comes with the progress; in terms of prestige and financial spinoffs. Clubs at this level have international exposure, quite beneficial for their players who can clinch juicy profes­ sional contracts in competitive leagues should they excel and attract player agents who usually closely follow the tournament. Financial gains are equally non- negligible. Beyond the visibility on the African stage, Colombe stands to bag at least $700,000 (nearly FCFA 400 million) following its qualifica­ tion. This is no small amount. So much could be done with it. With qualification now pocketed, stakeholders must be ready to recover from its celebration and prepare for the next phase which will even be harder. The Group Stage of the CAF Champions League, a very crucial one, will bring together the continent’s 16 best clubs, and it will be a whole new level for the Cameroonian flagbearer. An elitist level for men and not boys. Colombe has clearly matured since it faltered on the doorsteps of glory last year; eliminated at the second preliminary round. And it will need the hard-won experience, and much more than that, for the highly competitive level of the continental competition scheduled to begin later this month. The club and national football authorities are thus highly needed here. It should therefore no longer be Colombe of Dja and Lobo and indigenes alone, but that of Cameroon and Cameroonians as a whole with all necessary accompa­ nying national solidarity. After all, there were moments in the country when clubs involved at such levels in continental competitions were given the status of national teams with support on their technical benches. It is never bad or too late to retrieve and uphold what was good. Colombe needs that treatment from football authorities in the country to ably sharpen their skills for the upcoming task. Reinforcing the coaching staff of the club with experienced tacticians would be ti­ mely. Rubbing shoulders with RS Berkane of Morocco, Simba SC of Tanzania and Orlando Pirates of South Africa wouldn’t be a walk in the park for the Cameroon’s flag­ bearer. In fact, the Group C opponents have a stronger track record in continental club competitions than Colombe, which will be making its debut in the CAF Champions’ League group phase. Records show that RS Berkane of Morocco, three-time CAF Confederation Cup winners, reached the 16-team group stage of the Champions League for the second year running. Last year, RS Berkane were eliminated in the semi-finals. They also lifted the CAF Super Cup in 2025. While Orlando Pirates were crowned African champions in 1995 and also reached the Champions League final in 2013, Simba SC will be making their seventh Champions’ League group-stage presence. Impressive track records which must not be taken for granted at all. These should not also frighten Colombe. Good preparation is absolutely necessary here. This begins with building a ...