Cameroon–Mexico Friendly: U.S. Criminal Complaint Filed Over Missing $600,000 Owed to FECAFOOT

The match, played on June 10, 2023 in San Diego, California, was organized by Soccer United Marketing (SUM). According to the complaint, the funds represented a contractual participation fee that SUM was obligated to pay FECAFOOT.

Although Cameroon reportedly fulfilled all its sporting commitments, FECAFOOT has never received the payment, and no evidence of a transfer to the federation or U.S. tax authorities has been produced to date.

The complaint was filed with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI by a coalition of FECAFOOT Executive Committee members and Cameroonian club officials. It was drafted by Cameroonian-American attorney Emmanuel Nsahlai, based in Los Angeles.

In addition, a legal demand letter was sent to both SUM and the Mexican Football Federation, demanding immediate proof of payment and a detailed account of how the $600,000 was managed.

“This is about protecting money that belongs to Cameroonian football,” Nsahlai wrote. “Every franc counts for our players, our clubs, and our training centers.”

The complaint calls for a full investigation under U.S. law, citing possible offenses including wire fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy.

With the United States set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026, the coalition urged U.S. authorities to act swiftly and send a clear message: funds intended for football must not disappear into opaque channels, whether at home or abroad.