Cameroun-Canada clash over stalled Olembé Sports complex

A bitter financial dispute has halted construction of Cameroon’s Olembé sports complex for two years, pitting the government against Canadian firm Magil Construction. The company claims Yaoundé owes 16 billion FCFA (€25M) in unpaid bills, while authorities accuse Magil of contractual breaches.

The conflict escalated when the ICC International Court of Arbitration ordered Cameroon to place the contested funds in escrow a ruling the government rejects.

Officials allege Magil already received 42 billion FCFA (€64M) for Phase 1, nearly double the original 22 billion FCFA budget.

Magil, hired in 2020 after Italy’s Piccini was dropped, blames Cameroon’s Sports Ministry for freezing payments despite approving provisional handover of the 60,000-seat stadium. The venue hosted 2022 Africa Cup of Nations matches but remains unfinished.

Yaoundé now threatens countersuits, alleging poor work quality and delays. The standoff leaves one of Africa’s most expensive sports projects (total cost: 163 billion FCFA/€248M) in limbo, raising questions about accountability in major infrastructure deals.