Samuel Eto’o has won a crucial court case against the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled in his favour, making him a candidate again for the upcoming CAF Executive Committee elections.
The judgment, delivered on March 7, 2025, in Lausanne, Switzerland, is a resounding victory for Eto’o and the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), which had challenged his exclusion from the contest.
The conflict was sparked when the Executive Committee of CAF, in a decision made on January 25, 2025, omitted Eto’o’s name from the list of candidates who are qualified for election into the Extraordinary General Assembly on March 12, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt.
Invoking technicalities of process, the move by CAF was met with strong opposition by Eto’o and FECAFOOT, who saw it as an attempt to isolate a top football leader.
Determined to appeal the decision, Eto’o lodged an appeal with CAS on February 5.
Not only did CAS nullify the decision by CAF, but it also directed the organization to put Eto’o on the candidate list.
CAF was also directed to reimburse CHF 8,000 of Eto’o’s lawyer fees.
Last fortnight, the CAF Appeals Board ruled that the Disciplinary Board lacked jurisdiction in the matter, overturning the initial verdict to prohibit Eto’o from standing for election to the executive committee.
The victory is not just an individual triumph for Eto’o – it’s a fight for justice and honesty in African football administration.
His comeback paves the way for a more open and participatory leadership for the sport.
With Eto’o now preparing for the crucial March 12 elections, his focus is on bringing much-needed reforms and advocating for the growth of African football at all levels.
Below is the CAS ruling on March 7, 2025:
