Cameroonian footballer Charles Eloundou released from detention center

On August 25, 2026, 31-year-old Cameroonian footballer Charles Eloundou was released from the Limnes Pre-Removal Migrant Detention Centre in Cyprus. He had been detained by police due to an expired residence permit, despite having submitted a renewal application eight months prior. The athlete, who has previously played for clubs including Anorthosis, Nea Salamina, and Ethnikos Achna, is married to a French national.

The case gained significant attention as Eloundou is a key prosecution witness in a major forgery trial involving the club Achyronas Onisilos, currently pending before the Famagusta District Court. The Pan-Cyprian Footballers’ Association (PASP), led by Spyros Neofytidis, intervened on the player's behalf, arguing that bureaucratic delays in his permit renewal led to his detention. Following persistent advocacy from PASP and media coverage, the authorities approved his release pending the finalization of his residency documentation.

The release allows Eloundou to continue his professional football career in Cyprus while his legal residency status is finalized. The incident prompted calls for better administrative mechanisms to handle the status of foreign individuals involved in ongoing judicial proceedings to avoid potential disruptions or public suspicion regarding the integrity of court cases.