Controversial Samuel Eto'o targets CAF executive committee spot
12/22/2024 06:00 AM
Cameroonian Football Football (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o is keen to become a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s executive committee.
Since the former FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC and Inter Milan striker became the FECAFOOT boss in December 2021, Eto’o has been fined $200,000 for violating the principles of ethics, integrity, and sportsmanship as provided in Article 2 paragraph 3 of the CAF Statutes in July 2024.
In September 2024, Eto’o received a FIFA six-month ban from attending Cameroon international games due to breaching the world governing body's disciplinary code. This came after charges were filed against him following an incident at a 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup match in Colombia between Brazil and Cameroon.
Eto’o, who is among the greatest African footballers of all-time, has now made it known that ‘no one can prevent’ him ‘from being a candidate for the executive committee.’
"I think we have the video of my hearing last time at CAF and it was a sham, it was a theatre. It was anything but justice. We love our continent and we advocate that things should be done politically in a certain way but the basic rules must be respected,” Eto’o said on RFI according to Allez Les Lions.
“Whether at CAF or elsewhere, we have appealed and no one can prevent me from being a candidate for the executive committee because there are still several bodies that have to decide and as long as they are not decided, I am not convicted and I must be able to be a candidate.
“If ever the ultimate body condemns me and I know that I will not be convicted because we have enough evidence to prove our innocence, then I do not know why they will try to politically prevent me from making my contribution to African football,” he added.
“I told President Motsepe. I told him dad, it is good and beautiful to have a Samuel Eto’o who tries to shake up mentalities in your executive committee."
The CAF elections are set to take place in March 2025 in Cairo, Egypt.
