Samuel Eto'o Wins Legal Battle Against CAF, Secures Place in Executive Committee Race

Samuel Eto’o has successfully overturned decision by the confederation of african football CAF to exclude him from the upcoming executive committee elections. The court of arbitration for Sport CAS ruled in favor of the cameroonian football legend, reinstating him as candidate just days before the crucial vote on 12 March.

The Battle Between Eto'o and CAF

The controversy began in Jan 2025 when CAF’s Governance Review Sub Committee disqualified Eto’o due to his association with the betting company 1xBet. Despite CAF’s Appeals Jury lifting the sanction, the initial exclusion from the elections remained in place.

Eto’o with support from the cameroonian football federation FECAFOOT, took the case to CAS on 5 Feb, seeking to have CAF’s decision annulled. His legal team had already succeeded in overturning his initial fine.

A Landmark Victory

On 3 Mar 2025, CAS delivered decisive verdict, canceling Eto’o’s exclusion & ordering caf to reinstate him as candidate. CAF was instructed to cover all arbitration costs and pay eto’o and FECAFOOT 8000 swiss francs to partially cover legal fees.

This ruling dramatically reshapes the landscape ahead of the CAF elections as Eto’o now regains his opportunity to compete for seat on the governing body.