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Francis Ngannou’s secret football link revealed… but MMA star won’t switch sports again with cage return set


FRANCIS NGANNOU has a secret link to football back home in Cameroon – but he will not be switching sports again.

Ngannou walked out on the UFC last year to swap MMA for boxing – but did so after signing with the Professional Fighters League.

Francis Ngannou playing football for a local Cameroonian teamCredit: @francisngannou
Ngannou even has ownership in a football teamCredit: @francisngannou
The MMA star went back to Cameroon on holiday after his recent boxing lossCredit: @francisngannou

The PFL gave the green light for the move to boxing and the ex-UFC champion faced Tyson Fury, 35, in October.

He sensationally dropped the unbeaten heavyweight boxer only to lose a controversial split-decision.

Ngannou then faced Fury’s British rival Anthony Joshua, 34, in March but it ended in a sickening second-round knockout loss.

And the successive boxing defeat looks to have sent the heavyweight hero, 37, back to MMA for his next bout.

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But first he went back to Cameroon for a holiday and took the chance to play some local football for Sable F.C de Batie.

And PFL CEO Peter Murray revealed Ngannou is such a big fan that he co-owns a football side in his homeland.

But he does not fear losing the 6ft 4in powerhouse to an all-new sport for a second time.

Murray told SunSport: “I don’t think he’s going to hit the pitch. He does have ownership in a Cameroonian football club.

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“He’s quite passionate about it, he may be quiet about it but he definitely supports that franchise.”

Brazilian Renan Ferreira, 34, knocked out ex-UFC heavyweight Ryan Bader, 40, in 20 seconds in February.

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Ngannou was in attendance in Saudi Arabia for the lightning-quick finish – where it was announced he will face Ferreira in his cage comeback.

It will mark Ngannou’s debut fight for the PFL and his first in MMA since January 2022 – with September in Saudi eyed for the occasion.


Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk


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