The Predator, Francis Ngannou has delivered another powerful blow — and this time, it wasn’t inside the cage.
Cameroon’s heavyweight pride and global MMA superstar, Francis Zavier Ngannou, has broken his silence on the country’s political landscape — and his words are already shaking tables from Yaoundé to the diaspora..
In a revealing conversation with journalist Jean Bruno Tagne, the PFL world champion made it clear: if he had the chance to vote, it wouldn’t have been for President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for an astonishing 43 years.
Ngannou, known for his knockout power and unfiltered honesty, didn’t hold back.
“I think that today, after 43 years, he has given what he could. The main reason is that if he had been my father or my grandfather, I wouldn’t have advised him myself.”
Francis Ngannou has always been vocal about his humble beginnings in Batié, his struggles, and his rise to global fame. But political comments? Rare. Very rare.
Which is why this particular declaration feels seismic.
Why 43 Years Matters
Paul Biya has been in power since 1982 — a span covering:
-10 U.S. presidents
– The rise of the internet
– The birth and globalization of Afrobeats
-Entire generations of Cameroonians who have never known another head of state
It’s no secret that Biya is one of the oldest President in the world (by age and service)
When journalist Jean Bruno Tagne asked if he took part in the recent elections.
Ngannou admitted he didn’t:
“No, unfortunately not. I had my voter’s card, but it came very late and I wasn’t in Cameroon.”
Tagne pushed further, asking the heavyweight champion who he would have voted for, specifically, whether President Paul Biya would have been his choice.
Ngannou’s answer was direct and unapologetic:
“Given the current state of Cameroon in 2025, no, I don’t think so. No.”
Ngannou’s assessment taps into a broader sentiment among younger Cameroonians who feel the country needs fresh leadership, new ideas, and renewed energy. By saying “he has given what he could,” Ngannou was essentially acknowledging the longevity of Biya’s reign while suggesting it has reached its natural end.
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