FECAFOOT Election: Sports Ministry Bars Eto’o From Seeking Re-election

FECAFOOT Election: Sports Ministry Bars Eto’o From Seeking Re-election

Sampson Adedeji

Samuel Eto’o’s bid to continue as president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has suffered a major setback after the Ministry of Sports blocked his candidacy for a second term, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

During FECAFOOT’s recent Extraordinary General Assembly, Eto’o was urged to run again, but the former Barcelona striker said he would only decide after “careful consideration.”

Behind the scenes, however, sources suggest the Cameroonian legend was leaning toward seeking re-election.

That possibility prompted Alim Konaté, a delegate to the General Assembly, to seek clarification from the Ministry of Sports regarding FECAFOOT’s statutes on eligibility.

In November 2023, FECAFOOT amended its statutes to repeal certain disqualification clauses changes seemingly designed to clear Eto’o’s path despite his 22-month suspended prison sentence in Spain for tax fraud in 2022.

Previously, anyone with a custodial sentence longer than three months (without suspension) or six months (with suspension) was barred from holding office.

But in a letter dated August 19 and signed by Sports Ministry Secretary General Joseph Yerima, the government rejected the amended statutes, insisting they were never validated.

Quoting Article 7 of Law No. 2018/014 of July 11, 2018, Yerima stressed: “For their entry into force, these statutes and regulations are subject to a conformity check by the Ministry in charge of sports. To date, no text of FECAFOOT has met this requirement since the election of the current Executive Board.

Therefore, only the statutes adopted on July 13, 2021, remain applicable.” This position effectively blocks Eto’o’s re-election bid, leaving the ex-striker’s future at the helm of Cameroonian football uncertain.

Still, observers doubt the former Indomitable Lions captain will give up easily.

Eto’o’s persistence previously forced CAF to soften its stance against his Executive Committee candidacy, and many believe he may once again look for ways to challenge the Ministry’s ruling.