Cameroon’s football election suspended amid controversy

Cameroon’s upcoming football election has hit a major roadblock after the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, ordered its suspension, citing serious irregularities and threats to national unity.

The directive, sent in a formal letter to the Minister of Territorial Administration, halts the November 29th Fécafoot Elective General Assembly.

Mouelle Kombi expressed sharp concerns over the process, arguing that the election currently ignores national laws as well as FIFA and CAF regulations.

“The current conduct of the election does not respect either the laws of the country, or the regulations of FIFA and CAF,” he wrote, highlighting the severity of the irregularities.

The decision follows widespread controversy surrounding the exclusion of influential football clubs, the recognition of questionable entities, and the emergence of a parallel structure claiming to represent voices left out of the official federation.

These developments have deepened divisions within Cameroon’s football community and raised fears of further instability ahead of the critical vote.

The upcoming election has already drawn attention for its unprecedented nature: Samuel Eto’o stands as the sole candidate.

Eto’o, Cameroon’s former national team captain, only became eligible to run following a recent revision of Fécafoot’s statutes.

This amendment overturned previous provisions barring him from candidacy due to his conviction in Spain for social security fraud.

Minister Mouelle Kombi’s intervention now places Eto’o in a politically sensitive position, challenging the path to leadership he had seemed poised to claim.

Despite the mounting obstacles, Eto’o’s reputation for determination suggests he will resist calls to step aside, keeping the spotlight firmly on Cameroon’s football federation in the coming weeks.

The suspension has amplified calls for transparency and accountability within Fécafoot, underscoring the delicate balance between sport governance and national cohesion in Cameroon.

Observers now await further developments as both government authorities and football stakeholders navigate this high-stakes situation.