Despite rumours linking them with a reunion with PUMA following the termination of their contract with Le Coq Sportif, Cameroon have announced that they will sign a new three-year kit supply agreement with One All Sports.
The announcement that Cameroon were parting ways with Le Coq Sportif instantly got the rumour mill spinning, and in an enticing prospect, PUMA were linked with a return to the Indomitable Lion setup. However, those rumours have now been put to bed after the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) announced a deal with relatively unheard of manufacturer, One All Sports (OAS).
Traditionally a motorsport apparel provider, OAS’ other sports partnerships include the Jaguar Racing Formula E team, and the Williams esports outfit. The deal with Fecafoot is clearly the largest in the brand’s repertoire, but it’s a deal that reportedly is beneficial to both parties, with the Cameroonian national soccer’s governing body stating that the new partnership is “the most lucrative contract ever concluded by Cameroon”.
The now cancelled partnership with Le Coq Sportiff was signed in 2019 and was initially set to cover the Cameroon national team for the upcoming World Cup. The French sports apparel company was unhappy with the termination of the contract, releasing a statement describing the decision as ‘unilateral and brutal’, adding that they had already had shirts developed for the tournament which had been approved by FIFA.
The press release issued by FECAFOOT says that the official signing of the contract with One All Sports will be announced soon, all but ending any glimmer of hope of a reunion between Cameroon and PUMA, for now at least.
Starting in 1998, PUMA supplied Cameroon’s kits for 20 years, giving us memorable kits and moments such as the controversial sleeveless shirt of 2002, in which Cameroon won the African Cup of Nations in Mali, before being told by FIFA that they were not legal for the World Cup. That was followed two years later by the comical “onesie” design that the Indomitable Lions were handed a $154,000 fine and docked six-points from their 2006 World Cup qualifying group for wearing.
Away from those comical efforts there were plenty of other iconic kits, with possibly one of the best being the 20 year anniversary kit that was released at the end of 2017. Emblazoned with a modern and striking interpretation of the famous roaring lion crest, it was an individual design that reflected and represented the crest and country.
Expect to see Cameroon's new kits for the 2022 World Cup soon after the official announcement of the contract signing with OAS.
