Samuel Eto'o, the former captain of the Indomitable Lions, was re-elected for a new four-year term as president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) on November 29. This re-election, which took place by acclamation during the elective General Assembly in Mbankomo, comes amidst a climate of high tension with the government.

The election, which took place under the supervision of FIFA and CAF representatives, aimed to ensure compliance with the organization's statutes. However, the Ministry of Sports, headed by Narcisse Mouelle Kombi , attempted to have the election annulled.

The Ministry of Sports had asked for the election to be "postponed".

In a letter dated November 14, the Minister of Sports explicitly asked Fecafoot to postpone the elective General Assembly. The Ministry's grievances were numerous:

1. Alleged violation of the 2021 statutory texts.
2. Suspensions considered arbitrary by several clubs.
3. Failure to comply with recommendations issued by the ministry last August.

Going further, Minister Mouelle Kombi had also asked the Minister of Territorial Administration to block the holding of the assembly, citing risks of public disorder .

Fecafoot cites FIFA's non-interference

Fecafoot, for its part, dismissed the government's objections, citing FIFA statutes which prohibit any political or governmental interference in the affairs of its member federations. The presence of representatives from FIFA and CAF was highlighted as proof of the process's legitimacy and its compliance with international sporting rules.

Since the beginning of his first term, Samuel Eto'o's administration has been marked by numerous criticisms and a conflictual relationship with the Ministry of Sports. Points of contention include:

1. The national team's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
2. The intense tensions surrounding the choice of coach for the Indomitable Lions.

Despite this tense context and persistent disagreements, the four-time African Footballer of the Year has managed to retain majority support, allowing him to continue his leadership of Fecafoot.