YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) - Cameroon will host Moldova in its final friendly before the World Cup after Guatemala canceled a trip to the West African nation citing security fears, the Cameroon Football Federation said on Thursday.
Guatemala decided not to travel to Cameroon for the June 7 game in the capital Yaounde for “security reasons,” federation spokesperson Laurence Fotso said. She didn’t elaborate.
Local media suggested deadly attacks this week by Islamic extremist group Boko Haram in neighboring Nigeria may have been the reason for the Guatemala team’s reluctance to visit the region.
Cameroon said it guaranteed the Moldovans a four-day stay in a five-star hotel in Yaounde, and paid a FIFA-accredited match agent company $208,000 to make the game happen.
Cameroon’s squad is in Austria for a training camp and warmup games next week against Macedonia and Paraguay. Cameroon also plays Germany in Monchengladbach on June 1, then returns home for the farewell friendly against Moldova.
Cameroon faces Mexico, Croatia and host Brazil in group games at the World Cup next month.
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