The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) Vice President Seidou Mbombo Njoya looks set to lose his seat on the CAF Executive Committee after failing to secure the necessary endorsement from the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), which has instead backed Samuel Eto’o for the upcoming elections.
CAF rules prevent a single national football federation from endorsing more than one candidate for its Executive Committee, meaning Njoya has effectively been ruled out of the race after FECAFOOT chose to support Eto’o instead.
The decision marks a significant shift in power dynamics within African football, as Njoya, a key CAF figure and ally of CAF President Patrice Motsepe, faces an uncertain future.
“It was always going to be either Eto’o or Njoya,” said a Cameroonian football analyst. “And with Eto’o’s influence, it was clear FECAFOOT would back their sitting president.”
This scenario mirrors that of MacLean Letshwiti, the former Botswana FA president, who was also blocked from contesting after his own federation refused to endorse him.
A Political Battle Within Cameroon Football
The battle between Eto’o and Njoya represents more than just an election issue—it is part of a wider struggle for control within Cameroon football.
Njoya, the former FECAFOOT president, had been a CAF insider and held key roles under Motsepe’s leadership, while Eto’o has been engaged in high-profile governance battles since becoming FECAFOOT president in 2021.
The two have had tense relations, with Njoya being seen as part of the old CAF establishment, while Eto’o represents a new wave of African football leadership.
“Eto’o has systematically worked to consolidate his power within FECAFOOT,” the Cameroon football journalist noted.
“This endorsement battle was just another chapter in their ongoing political rivalry.”
With FECAFOOT officially backing Eto’o, Njoya no longer meets CAF’s eligibility criteria, which requires all candidates to have their home federation’s formal endorsement.
Botswana’s Letshwiti Suffers a Similar Fate
Njoya is not the only high-profile CAF figure to be blocked from running due to endorsement issues.
MacLean Letshwiti, the former Botswana FA president, faced an identical situation, as the new Botswana FA leadership refused to endorse his candidacy.
Like Njoya, Letshwiti has been closely aligned with CAF’s current leadership, but his failure to secure local backing means he will no longer be eligible for a CAF position.
“The endorsement rule has become a powerful tool in African football politics,” said a CAF governance expert. “It is being used to remove certain officials from the race before they even get to the ballot.”
This has led to growing concerns over how CAF elections are being managed, particularly after several high-profile disqualifications, including Samuel Eto’o, Jean-Guy Blaise Mayolas, and Letshwiti himself.
What This Means for the CAF Elections
With the elections set for March 2025, the exclusion of major figures like Njoya and Letshwiti could reshape CAF’s leadership structure.
Njoya’s close ties to Patrice Motsepe and the current CAF administration make his departure a major shift, potentially weakening Motsepe’s grip over the CAF Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, Eto’o’s increasing influence could lead to a new power bloc within CAF, especially if he manages to overturn his own election disqualification at CAS.
“The elections are becoming a major turning point for CAF’s leadership,” said a football governance expert.
“With long-time insiders being pushed out, we could see a new wave of power players emerging in African football politics.”
For now, both Njoya and Letshwiti remain sidelined, and unless there are last-minute legal rulings in their favor, their CAF careers may come to an abrupt end.
The coming weeks will be decisive, as CAF finalizes its candidate list and navigates ongoing legal battles at CAS—all while the internal power struggle for control of African football continues to unfold.
