Youths playing basketball at the Molyko Omnisport stadium, Buea Cycling tour , CameroonWomen playing Volleyball in CameroonAthletes at Mount CameroonSchool children in a wrestling competition in CameroonChildren in Tug of War game Canoe Race on the Wouri River Swimming competition
Sports in Cameroon is practiced widely by the population and advocated by the national government. Cameroonians take pride in victories at international competitions, making sport an important source of national unity.[1] Traditional sports in Cameroon include canoe racing, swimming, tug of war, and wrestling. Wrestling has featured in the initiation rites and other ceremonies of ethnic groups such as the Bakweri and the Duala.[2]
Children begin playing sports in primary and secondary school. At the university level, the National Federation for College and University Sports (FENASCO; Fédération National des Sports Scholaire et Universitaire) organises school competitions. The agency also handles provincial competitions at the primary-school level and national games at the secondary-school level.[9] Many sports have their own organising body, including the Cameroon Boxing Federation (FECABOXE), the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), and the Cameroon Handball Federation (FECAHAND). The Cameroon Olympic Committee is another national sports agency,[1] and Cameroon is one of the few tropical countries to have competed in the Winter Olympics.
Football match in progress in a local community in CameroonBefore a football match in a village in Cameroon
Sports teams are organised along ethnic lines in Francophone Cameroon and under corporate or departmental sponsorship in Anglophone Cameroon. Teams develop fierce rivalries, and violence is not uncommon during matches. Training of athletes is handled by several sports institutes, including some owned by corporate sponsors, such as the Brasseries du Cameroun's l'École de Football des Brasseries du Cameroun (EFBC) in Douala.[1]
The Volleyball Cup of Cameroon takes place on a regular basis.
In June 2021, all the women's matches were played at the gymnasium of the National Advanced School of Public Works.