With just three months to go before the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot) heads to the polls, a bitter legal and political standoff has erupted over the eligibility of its current president, Samuel Eto’o. What should have been a straightforward leadership contest ahead of the November 29 elections has instead plunged the federation into one of the deepest crises in its recent history, threatening not only the integrity of the vote but also the stability of the country’s football governance.
At the center of the storm is Eto’o, the legendary former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker whose leadership since 2021 has been as controversial as it has been transformational. His bid for a second term now hangs by a thread, entangled in disputes over statutes, ministerial authority, and the lingering consequences of a criminal conviction abroad.
The Spanish Tax Fraud Conviction
The immediate source of Eto’o’s legal vulnerability stems from a 2022 ruling in Spain, where he was convicted of tax fraud committed during his playing days at FC Barcelona. A Spanish court handed him a 22-month suspended prison sentence, allowing him to avoid jail time but leaving a permanent legal mark on his record.
Under Fécafoot’s statutes as they stood during his first election in December 2021, such a conviction would automatically disqualify any candidate from seeking office. The rules explicitly bar individuals convicted by any national or international court from contesting elections.
For Eto’o’s critics, this provision leaves no room for interpretation: his conviction in Spain makes him ineligible. The government of Cameroon, through the Ministry of Sports, has echoed this position, insisting that the 2021 statutes remain the only valid legal framework for the upcoming election.
Fécafoot’s Controversial Statute Reform
Eto’o’s allies within Fécafoot, however, have attempted to secure his political survival through legal reform. In November 2023, the federation’s executive committee introduced a new set of statutes that significantly altered the eligibility criteria for candidates.
The revisions softened the disqualification rules by stating that only individuals with “a definitive prison term accompanied by a detention order” or those receiving “a suspended sentence exceeding three months” would be barred from running.
Since Eto’o’s suspended sentence was less than three months, the change would conveniently allow him to stand for re-election. But critics argue the reform was designed solely to protect him, a clear conflict of interest that undermines the federation’s credibility.
The Government Pushes Back
The Ministry of Sports, led by Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, has refused to recognize the 2023 reforms. In an official letter dated August 19, Kombi reaffirmed that the new statutes were never submitted for government approval, as required by Cameroonian law.
“As of now, no Fécafoot document has fulfilled this requirement since the election of the current Executive Board,” the minister declared. He went further to insist that only the 2021 statutes are legally binding, meaning Eto’o is disqualified from running.
This position sets up a direct confrontation between the federation’s executive committee and the state, raising the stakes of an already fraught electoral process.
Eto’o’s Catch-22
The current impasse leaves Eto’o trapped in a dilemma with no easy escape.
- If Fécafoot proceeds under the 2021 statutes, Eto’o will be disqualified on the basis of his Spanish conviction.
- If the federation pushes ahead with the 2023 statutes, the government could annul the election or rivals could challenge it in court, throwing the entire process into chaos.
Either option promises instability, prolonged legal wrangling, and the risk of delegitimizing the federation’s leadership at a crucial moment for Cameroonian football.
A Polarizing Figure
Eto’o’s towering influence in Cameroon complicates matters further. Revered as one of Africa’s greatest-ever footballers, he has also become a deeply polarizing figure since taking over Fécafoot. Supporters credit him with energizing the federation, raising international visibility, and advocating for players’ welfare. Critics, however, accuse him of centralizing power, clashing with institutions, and bending rules for personal survival.
As a result, the November election risks becoming less about football policy and more about Eto’o himself — whether he should remain at the helm or step aside. His charisma and stature as a national icon make it difficult to separate the man from the institution.
A Federation at Risk
The standoff arrives at a sensitive time for Cameroon’s football, both domestically and internationally. Fécafoot continues to face pressure to stabilize its competitions, improve infrastructure, and restore confidence after years of internal turbulence. The shadow of FIFA also looms large, as the world governing body is known to intervene when government authorities are perceived as overreaching into football affairs.
If the crisis deepens, Cameroon risks another period of instability that could affect its international standing and the careers of countless players who depend on a functioning federation.
The Road Ahead
With the election scheduled for November 29, time is running out to resolve the impasse. For Eto’o, the challenge is existential: he must either find a legal pathway to validate his candidacy or face the prospect of disqualification. For the government, the task is to uphold the rule of law without triggering a direct clash with one of the nation’s most celebrated sporting heroes.
Meanwhile, rival candidates are preparing to exploit any misstep, ensuring that the road ahead will be littered with legal challenges and political maneuvering.
What is clear is that Cameroonian football, once again, finds itself at a crossroads. Instead of focusing on the game itself — nurturing talent, supporting clubs, and preparing national teams for international competitions — Fécafoot is consumed by institutional battles.
The outcome of this confrontation will not only decide the fate of Samuel Eto’o but could also define the credibility and stability of Cameroonian football governance for years to come.
