Former Harambee Stars right back James Situma has detailed how the never-unending supremacy battles between the Cameroonian government and the Football Federation (FECAFOOT) President Samuel Eto’o could benefit Kenya in the forthcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier double.Stars will travel to face the five-time African champions on Friday, 11 October, before hosting them for the return match three days later at the Mandela Stadium in Namboole, Uganda.On paper, Cameroon remains the pre-match favourites going by the quality of players and experience in their team and the fact that they will enjoy home advantage in the first leg.##NAJAVA_MECA_8388648##However, Situma is not entirely inclined to the thought of the Indomitable Lions making light work of Stars and taking full control of Group J of the qualifiers.The former defender holds the belief that the Stars will fully capitalize on the incessant off-the-pitch issues bedeviling their opponents and decline in form to gather more points.The Cameroonian government and Eto’o have always brought their differences to the public from the time the former striker assumed office in 2021.NSL: Nairobi United eager to extend perfect league start against SS AssadThe friction, triggered by several factors, among them the control of the team, has significantly contributed to the decline of what was once a dreaded team in the continent.Cameroon has three wins in their last ten competitive matches, a run of results that heavily contrasts with the form of yesteryear.Last month, five key players found themselves at the centre of power struggles between the government and FECAFOOT as they were blocked at the Douala Airport and subsequently directed to a different hotel than originally planned with the federation.This is not an isolated case, and Situma believes that the longstanding dispute between the government and the federation will give Kenya a slight edge in the forthcoming matches.The former Sofapaka captain highlighted how the differences will make the working environment less conducive for the players to the advantage of Stars.”The constant conflicts between Eto’o and the government have somehow destabilized the team. It is always difficult for players to get positive results when operating in an environment that is not conducive. If we capitalize on their internal issues, we will get something from the two matches,” Situma told SportsBoom.com.”Friendly results showed us that we can make it” : Junior Starlets confident ahead of World Cup debutThe former league-winning defender with Tusker revealed how the ban from attending national team matches, slapped on ETO’O by the governing body, will suck morale out of the players ahead of the two matches.The former Barcelona striker was handed the ban on Monday for violating FIFA’s disciplinary regulations, which stemmed from his conduct in a U20 Women’s World Cup round of 16 match against Brazil.Situma noted that Eto’o remains a respected figure and a role model to nearly everyone in the squad, and his absence will have a psychological effect on them.“It is no longer a secret that Eto’o enjoys a good relationship with the players. We know his influence in the team, and his absence may end up affecting him in one way or another, which is good for us,” observed the former Mathare United defender.
