The recent African Cup of Nations (Afcon) held in Cameroon showed the people's love for football, but as the national side prepares for a World Cup play-off, not all of them want the team to make it to Qatar, as Tony Vinyoh reports.
Sport and politics should not mix, but when it comes to football in the country, they are very much linked.
The five-year conflict between the central government and Anglophone rebels has become a football field.
When Egypt beat Cameroon in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, a lot of the country went into mourning, but the English-speaking region of Bamenda erupted in celebration. Most of the people who celebrated the defeat of Cameroon did so in their homes, but their voices could be heard across town.
In the suburb of Bambili, Whistles, chants and even motorbike stunts reflected the feelings of many southern Cameroonians to whom the Indomitable Lions, as the national team is known, have become a vivid representation of a union they despise.
The surgeon and urologist was among those celebrating the defeat.
He is aware of the impact that sport has on politics in the country and the impact it has on his patients.
Football is used to sweep burning issues under the rock in this country. He says they put more money into football because they know football is a unifying factor.
In 1998 some residents in Bamenda set fire to the offices of the national energy supplier in protest after power went out before the Indomitable Lions played Austria at the World Cup.
At the time, the underground campaign was championed by civil servants who wanted to retire early.
The southern Cameroonian crisis started in 2016 and Dr. Ebogo supported it until then. He believes the government uses sporting victories to distract attention.
Even if the Indomitable Lions win, you forget what you are fighting for. They have done this for many years. The misery of the people increases when the Indomitable Lions win.
The team plays a central role in the carefully choreographed image of President Paul Biya, who is in his 40th year in power.
A popular video clip of a young Mr Biya wishing the team good luck at the recent tournament was broadcasted on national TV.
The strong man is what most people think is the reason the Indomitable Lions win.
The Indomitable Lions win a trophy and people send motions of support to the president.
When the Indomitable Lions lose, people in Bamenda have a hard time keeping their joy in check.
Out in the open where dissent can be deadly, knowing looks and smiling faces only tell a small part of the story.
The French and British carved up the country in the colonial era, leaving a linguistic and cultural divide.
After independence English-speakers were left out of the political and economic decisions, with power concentrated in the hands of the French-speaking majority.
The English-speaking region is now calling for independence.
The women's national team was the first casualty of the war.
They were expected to challenge Nigeria for the trophy as hosts of the women's Afcon.
Bars in Bamenda were full of fans cheering for the Indomitable Lionesses when the tournament began, despite the fact that southern activists were arrested a few weeks earlier.
On the day of the final, the mood had been replaced by apathy and opposition as the situation deteriorated. It took two weeks to destroy decades of southern support.
The continental tournament was never warmed up by most Southern Cameroonians. ABC was the principle to many. Team ABC was signed by Dr Ebogo, who was scouting the opponents of Cameroon.
There was nothing like the Nations Cup in Bamenda. They even offered to ferry people to Bafoussam and nobody moved, he said, referring to the free tickets, transportation and coercion that the government and politicians put in place to fill empty stadiums.
Smith Mbua, a human resources professional, has a passion for the game. He traveled to Yaound to watch the games.
Football shouldn't have anything to do with politics. He says that we will solve our problems one way or another, but it shouldn't deprive people of things that make them happy.
We have more important issues. We need hospitals, better schools, and we need to pay our teachers who are on strike because they haven't received salaries, but football has always brought us peace.
Since returning from Africa, Mr Mbua has not received any threats, but he is discreet about his love for the Indomitable Lions. Performance and personal choice can affect support for the national team.
He is more positive about the level of support in the southern part of the country.
I dare to say that 60 percent of Anglophones supported the national team. People are angry but we still love our country.
The appointment of Samuel Etoo as head of the football federation is not enough to convince the people of Bamenda to support the national team, according to Dr. Ebogo.
He insists that it will be difficult to get people to love the Indomitable Lions like we did in 1990.
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