Former Cameroon international Bernard Tchoutang has revisited one of the most painful chapters of his football career, revealing the deep disappointment he still carries after missing out on two FIFA World Cups with the Indomitable Lions.
The 49-year-old forward was left out of Cameroon’s squads for the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and the 2002 tournament co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, despite being regarded as one of the country’s standout players during that era.
Speaking candidly about the omissions, Tchoutang claimed his exclusion from the 1998 squad was influenced by forces beyond football.
“I missed two World Cups, 1998 and 2002, but the 1998 one hurt me particularly because it was due to a mafia,” Tchoutang said.
“Claude Le Roy was the coach, and he decided that I wasn’t one of the best, concluding that I didn’t deserve to play in his team. It’s sad because, at that time, Cameroonians considered me the best player in the country, and the statistics proved it.”
Tchoutang further insisted that public support for his inclusion highlighted the controversial nature of the decision, recalling demonstrations by fans who believed he deserved a place in the squad.
“In Cameroon, the people only ever marched for two players: Louis-Paul M’Fédé and myself. In 1998, they marched for me because they believed I deserved to go to the World Cup,” he added.
“That shows my absence from the final squad list was beyond incomprehensible. It is clear that this non-selection was not for sporting reasons.”
Despite the disappointment of missing football’s biggest stage, Tchoutang still enjoyed a notable international career with Cameroon. He earned 42 caps and scored 10 goals for the Indomitable Lions, playing a key role in the country’s triumphant 2000 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
At club level, he also achieved success in Europe, notably winning the 1999–2000 KNVB Cup with Dutch side Roda JC.
Though decades have passed since the controversial omissions, Tchoutang’s latest remarks underline how deeply the World Cup snubs continue to resonate with the former striker.
