Yemisi Izuora
UBA Cameroon has provided a CFA2.5 billion loan to the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) to finance the construction of its new headquarters, according to a source within the bank.
The financing helped complete construction work and equip the building, officially inaugurated on May 13, 2026, in Yaoundé by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute.
The new headquarters marks another step in the institutional development of Cameroonian soccer as Fecafoot seeks to strengthen its administrative structure.
In a message addressed to federation officials, UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu praised the completion of the project and acknowledged the role played by public authorities and project partners.
He also reiterated the group’s interest in financing sports infrastructure across Africa, arguing that such investments can support both sports development and youth opportunities.
Sarata Thiam, who oversees part of UBA’s operations in Francophone Africa, said the partnership with Fecafoot reflects a long-term strategy. According to her, the bank plans to continue supporting sports and related infrastructure projects across the continent.
Fecafoot President Samuel Eto’o thanked UBA for backing the project and called for broader cooperation on future initiatives tied to the development of local soccer.
UBA Cameroon’s involvement in sports financing in the country did not begin with the federation’s headquarters. During preparations for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the bank also participated in financing the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé and the Japoma Sports Complex in Douala.
For the Olembe Stadium project, UBA reportedly provided financing facilities that enabled the government to secure 15% of the total construction cost. Built on a 34-hectare site in Yaoundé, the stadium is the largest in Cameroon and hosted the AFCON 2021 final.
At the Japoma Sports Complex, a project valued at around $284.48 million, UBA Cameroon provided guarantees, financial backing, and short-term financing support. The 50,000-seat venue later hosted matches during both the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and AFCON 2021.