Samuel Eto’o Eyes CAF Executive Committee Role Amid Controversies

Cameroonian football icon and FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o has expressed his determination to secure a position on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee, despite recent controversies surrounding his tenure.

Since assuming the FECAFOOT presidency in December 2021, Eto’o has faced multiple legal challenges, including a $200,000 fine from CAF in July 2024 for violating ethical principles and a six-month ban by FIFA in September 2024. The latter stemmed from a disciplinary breach during the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup match between Cameroon and Brazil in Colombia.

Even with these challenges, Eto’o stays determined. In an interview with RFI, he said, “No one can stop me from running for a position on the executive committee. There are still other groups that need to make decisions, and until they do, I haven’t been found guilty.”

Eto’o also criticized how CAF handled his disciplinary hearings, calling them “fake” and showing his strong desire to improve African football.

The ex-player from FC Barcelona and Inter Milan insisted on his innocence, saying, “We have enough proof to show that I’m not guilty. I told President Motsepe that I want to change how things work in CAF’s executive committee.”

The elections for the CAF executive committee will take place in March 2025 in Cairo, Egypt. Eto’o hopes to make a big impact on how African football is managed.