The counterfeit jerseys, worth about 35 million FCFA, are believed to have come from China.
Customs officials in Douala in the Littoral Region have seized counterfeited kits of the national football team of Cameroon worth over 35 million FCFA. The kits which are made up of fake jerseys copying the design of the official Cameroon national team kits were seized at the Douala port recently. The information was made public last Monday July 21. Customs officers found the kits during routine checks at the port.
Per officials, if the kits had entered the market, they would have hurt local businesses and reduced income for the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT. It is believed that the jerseys would have cost the federation over 100 million FCFA in lost sales. Fake jerseys not only take money away from the federation but also harm the team’s brand. Authorities are now working to find out who brought in the fake jerseys and stop them from circulating.
The seizure of counterfeit Indomitable Lions jerseys has drawn strong reactions online, with many applauding customs officials while expressing deeper suspicions. Some social media users view the interception as proof of improved oversight under the current FECAFOOT leadership. This is not the first time that fake sports items have been seized in Cameroon.
The government is trying to stop counterfeit goods, especially fake football merchandise, which is a growing problem. FECAFOOT entered a partnership in April this year to boost the interception of such activities on gadgets belonging to the federation.
