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.

@francisngannouFrancis Ngannou playing football for a local Cameroonian team[/caption]

@francisngannouNgannou even has ownership in a football team[/caption]

@francisngannouThe MMA star went back to Cameroon on holiday after his recent boxing loss[/caption]

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

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.

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.

“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.

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.