Samuel Eto’o, Cameroon and Barcelona legend, has taken a seat at the Confederation of African Football Executive Committee in a rollercoaster ride whose twists and turns saw him blocked from running only to later manage to overturn the case.
Eto’o, who is now the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), was shockingly banned from running for a seat on behalf of the Central African region (UNIFFAC).
He was banned by CAF over the suspected governance problems at FECAFOOT, and this caused a bitter court battle that found its way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Determined to challenge what he perceived as an unjust ruling, Eto’o immediately appealed to CAS, which later overturned the CAF ruling, ruling that he was eligible to stand for election.
The decision opened the way for the four-time African Player of the Year to be reinstated on the ballot, to the relief of his supporters.
With his reinstatement, Eto’o remained unchallenged for the UNIFFAC role, thus ensuring his automatic election into the CAF Executive Committee which has been confirmed at the 14th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly in Cairo today.
His victory also solidifies his authority in African football administration, complementing his growing leadership position in the sport.
The addition of the former striker at this crucial moment signifies CAF’s step as it steers forward with reforms, financial reorganization, and preparing for major competitions like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Experience at the highest level in football both on the field and as an administrator by Eto’o can prove useful as CAF tries to introduce more standardization in the game on the continent.
