Former African football star Samuel Eto'o recently offered his resignation as the president of the Cameroon Football Federation, only to have it rejected by the federation's executive committee. Eto'o, who holds the impressive record of winning the African Player of the Year award four times, has been facing allegations of improper conduct, match-fixing, and corruption.
The executive committee of the Cameroon Football Federation met in the capital city of Yaoundé on Monday to assess the performance of the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations. It was during this meeting that Eto'o expressed his willingness to step down as president, and he even encouraged other committee members to do the same 'in good faith.'
However, after discussions and deliberations, the executive committee unanimously decided to maintain their current mandates and rejected Eto'o's resignation. In a statement released by the federation, they expressed their renewed confidence in Eto'o and his commitment to the reconstruction and development of Cameroon football at all levels, as outlined in his plan adopted during the elective general assembly in December 2021.
The statement did not mention any other decisions taken or conclusions drawn by the executive committee. The future of Cameroon coach Rigobert Song remains uncertain following the team's disappointing campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon, a five-time champion, managed to secure a win in their final group game to progress to the next stage but was then eliminated by Nigeria after a lackluster performance in the round of 16.
Eto'o has been plagued by corruption allegations over the past year. Last week, The Athletic reported having evidence such as WhatsApp messages, emails, letters, and audio recordings supporting allegations of match-fixing, abuse of power, physical threats, incitement of violence, and spreading false information in Cameroon. The case has been sent to FIFA's ethics committee and is also under investigation by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Prior to these recent allegations, CAF was already investigating 'serious' claims made by several Cameroonian football stakeholders against Eto'o. The federation emphasized that the former Barcelona and Inter Milan star should be considered innocent until proven guilty by an appropriate judicial body.
Moreover, concerns were raised in Cameroon regarding Eto'o's role as an ambassador for a sports betting company, with at least one club filing a complaint with the Cameroonian federation. Such an association could potentially violate the codes set by the institution.
Cameroonian soccer has faced numerous challenges in the past, including government interference, corruption allegations, and unfulfilled promises from soccer leaders. Eto'o's election as president was seen as an opportunity to bring about positive change in the country's football landscape. As a four-time World Cup participant for Cameroon between 1998 and 2014, Eto'o's dedication to the sport and his love for the game remain undebatable.
The situation surrounding Samuel Eto'o and the Cameroon Football Federation is still evolving, with further investigations and developments expected in the coming weeks.
