Samuel Eto’o has been re-elected as President of Cameroon’s Football Federation (FECAFOOT) after securing 85 of 87 votes in the Congres on Saturday, extending his mandate for another four years.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker ran unopposed, with election organisers confirming that other aspiring candidates failed to meet the eligibility criteria. Two ballots were declared spoiled.
Eto’o’s victory comes eight months after he was elected by acclamation to the CAF Executive Committee in Cairo in March 2025.
That elevation was made possible after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a CAF ban that had temporarily barred him from holding office.
His renewed domestic mandate arrives amid ongoing scrutiny of his leadership. Eto’o has faced a series of allegations during his first term, accusations he strongly rejects including claims of match-fixing in the lower divisions, conflicts of interest linked to his association with betting company 1xBet, and misappropriation of funds from international friendlies believed to have been diverted abroad.
There have also been longstanding concerns over election manipulation in his initial FECAFOOT victory, as well as controversy surrounding a suspended tax-fraud sentence in Spain.
Several complaints are currently active, including petitions submitted to the Cameroonian Ministry of Sports and FIFA Ethics Committee. A coalition led by international lawyer Emmanuel Nsahlai, backed by figures such as former FECAFOOT vice president Henry Njalla Quan Jr, has presented recordings, messages and documents as part of its case.
Eto’o insists the allegations form part of a “campaign” against him and maintains that his work at FECAFOOT has been focused on reforms and restoring international recognition for Cameroonian football.
Despite the controversies, delegates at the November FECAFOOT congress offered overwhelming support, ensuring Eto’o another four-year term and reinforcing his influence at both national and continental levels.
