Samuel Eto’o’s tenure as President of the Cameroonian Football Association (Fecafoot) has taken a tumultuous turn as his resignation has been met with rejection by the Executive Committee members.
The decision came following Cameroon’s disappointing exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the Indomitable Lions were defeated by Nigeria in the last 16 stage. Eto’o, who assumed the presidency in December 2021, tendered his resignation in the wake of the team’s underwhelming performance at the AFCON tournament. However, the Executive Committee rebuffed his request to step down.
The former Cameroon international’s leadership has been marred by controversy during his two-and-a-half years in office, with notable challenges surfacing throughout his tenure. Despite Eto’o’s emotional involvement during Cameroon’s progression to the knockout stages of the AFCON, his resignation was prompted by the team’s elimination from the competition.
In a statement released by Fecafoot, the Executive Committee clarified their decision to maintain Eto’o in his position, expressing unanimous support for his continued leadership. They cited confidence in Eto’o’s vision for the reconstruction and development of Cameroon football, as outlined in his plan adopted by the elective General Assembly in December 2021.
Under Eto’o’s stewardship, Cameroon faced disappointments on the international stage, failing to advance beyond the group stage in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and exiting the AFCON 2023 in the round of 16. The rejection of Eto’o’s resignation underscores the complexities within the Cameroon football administration and sets the stage for continued scrutiny over the direction of the sport in the country under his leadership.
