Cameroon paid for failing to find the right balance as the holders went out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the hands of neighbours Nigeria.
Having struggled to turn possession into scoring chances in their previous two matches where they failed to score, Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf managed to solve that problem against Nigeria only to be let down by his previously impeccable defence in a 3-2 round-of-16 defeat.
"I feel sorry for my guys, they worked hard and they played well but it's football, only one can win in the end," Seedorf said in the wake of Saturday's defeat.
"We can be proud of the fighting spirit we showed but this is sport. This is where everyone needs to be united and continue to build for the future."
Seedorf said that before the game, Cameroon - who did not concede a goal in their three group matches - had concentrated on improving their attack.
"We worked on the last third of the field and scored two goals. Our defence as a team made some mistakes that we paid for with a high price, In attack, we produced more. I am satisfied with what we produced, we could have expressed better football at certain moments.
"There were, for sure, a lot of positive things which are hard to see at the moment."
That loss left the Dutchman facing an uncertain future with a team which generally does not tolerate failure.
"Maybe you want to give us a few days," said Seedorf when asked about what might happen next. "My future is not so important."
Seedorf has been in charge of Cameroon for just under a year and his 12 games have produced four wins, five draws and three defeats.
However, it would have been unfair to have expected a repeat of their campaign in 2017 where they surprisingly won the tournament.
The current side is far from the best that the country has produced and failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup.
Apart from Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, the biggest name in the squad is arguably Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and he started only eight league matches for Paris Saint-Germain last season.
Seedorf's foray into coaching has so far had mixed results. He was dismissed from his first job at AC Milan after four months in 2014 although that seemed harsh as he had overseen an improvement compared to his predecessor Massimiliano Allegri.
He then had five months as coach of China's Shenzhen and in 2017-18 took over at Deportivo Coruna halfway through the season but could not prevent them being relegated.
"I've enjoyed every minute I've been working in this group, being in Africa especially," he said. "For the future, we will see what will come.
"I think we played three good matches in the group stage although we didn't score as much as we should have... I am very proud about what our team has done over the last month."
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
