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Cameroon football icon and former African Player of the Year, Samuel Eto’o, encountered a setback in his endeavor to step down as president of the Cameroon Football Federation. The federation’s executive committee rejected his resignation proposal.
Eto’o, who holds the distinguished record of clinching the African Player of the Year award four times, found himself entangled in controversies revolving around allegations of misconduct, match-fixing, and corruption.
In a statement released by the federation, it was revealed that the executive committee convened in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital, to evaluate the national team’s performance at the Africa Cup of Nations. During the meeting, Eto’o expressed his intention to resign and urged other members to follow suit “in good faith.”
However, after thorough discussions and deliberations, the executive committee unanimously decided to retain their current positions. They expressed unwavering confidence in Eto’o’s leadership to persist in the reconstruction and advancement of Cameroonian football, as outlined in his agenda adopted during the elective general assembly on December 11, 2021, the day Eto’o assumed the presidency.
Although the federation’s statement did not divulge any further resolutions, uncertainties loom over the future of Cameroon coach Rigobert Song following the national team’s disappointing performance at the Africa Cup.
Cameroon, a five-time champion, barely made it to the knockout stage, only to suffer elimination at the hands of Nigeria after a lackluster showing in the round of 16.
Eto’o has been dogged by corruption allegations in the past year, with reports implicating him in match-fixing, abuse of authority, and other misconduct. Ongoing investigations by FIFA’s ethics committee and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) maintain Eto’o’s presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
Moreover, concerns have been raised regarding Eto’o’s ambassadorial role with a sports betting company, potentially breaching institutional regulations and prompting grievances from clubs.
Cameroon football has grappled with various challenges, including governmental interference, corruption accusations, and unfulfilled promises. Eto’o, who represented Cameroon in four World Cups spanning from 1998 to 2014, assumed the presidency amidst aspirations for reform and advancement in the sport.
