Cameroon: Victoria United FC Wins 2023/24 Elite 1 Championship

This is the first time since Tiko United in 2009 that a team from the South West Region is winning Cameroon’s premier football league, the Elite 1 championship

By Boris Esono Nwenfor & Sonita Ngunyi

DOUALA, Cameroon – Victoria United Football Club have been crowned champions of the MTN Elite 1 championship, the first time the team from Limbe has won the league since its inception. A late penalty from Indomitable Lions player Wilfried Nathan ensured Victoria held Stade Renard to a 2-2 draw at the Mbappe Leppe Stadium in Douala on Thursday, April 18.

“I knew I was going to be champions, as I said in the beginning, and today it has happened," Nkwain Valentine, President of Victoria United told Pan African Visions, after leading his side to their first league trophy.

"I worked hard to get to where I am today. I was a photographer to becoming a billionaire. I am putting a lot of work into football. I do not steal, or lie and I do only what is correct. I put money in football because I like young people to make their living in football and I know they are going to go far."

Victoria United alias OPOPO headed into this game against Stade Renard needing just a draw to be crowned champions having dispatched defending Champions Coton Sport in the last encounter. Stade Renard meantime had a chance to win the league with a victory over OPOPO.

It was Victoria United who took the lead just 20 minutes into the encounter with Dze Ebua Gilbert getting the opening goal. He will, however, have to be substituted a few minutes later having collided badly with one of his teammates.

Stade Renard will find a second gear in the game having gone behind. The equalizer will come in the 45^th minute through Victor Ngobara. At this point, Victoria United was still on course to win the league. That will all change at the 6oth minute mark as Debi Zamanga gave Stade Renard the lead.

With the lead heading into the final minutes of the game, Stade Renard was en route to be crowned champions. Things will however change at the 84^th minute as Victoria United was awarded a penalty kick. Up stepped Wilfried Nathan to score and send the OPOPO fans and dignitaries into ecstasy. 

“We are very grateful for what has happened today and I am very happy,” said Etchu Perry, a player of Victoria United. "I am short of words. It has not been easy since the Regional League up to now. We have struggled and our hard work has paid us. Our fans should stay strong and keep supporting Victoria United. There are many glorious times to come again.”

One of the driving forces of Victoria United this season has been Richmond Nji. The young player has scored some 16 goals for Victoria United this season and is on course to finish as the top goal scorer of the league, though Jules Armand Kooh of Les Astres is not far off with a couple of more matches to be played.

"I feel very happy about the victory. I feel so emotionally overwhelmed," Richmond Nji, Victoria United’s striker and current top goal scorer in the league told Pan African Visions.

“I feel good that at least now I am the highest goal scorer. However, I know I cannot add to the number compared to my other challengers who have other games to add to their tally. Anything that comes I will be grateful for it. The most important was the championship that we took."

This is the first time since Tiko United in 2009 that a team from the South West Region is winning Cameroon’s premier football league, the Elite 1 championship. I feel so excited and I am a happy president. It has been long since the South West Region enjoyed such a privilege to be champion of Cameroon since Tiko United did so,” said Ndazeh Valery, President of the South West Regional League of FECAFOOT.

“I believe that everybody has seen; there have been rumours, accusations and others that Victoria United has been favoured by officials. Most of the games have been played on live TV and every Cameroonian today knows the truth that Victoria United is not only the champion, but a merited one.”

With this victory, Victoria United is expected to participate in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Champions League and stand a chance to participate in the Group stage for next season.