The ongoing tensions within the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) have escalated once again, as former Indomitable Lions goalkeeper Joseph Antoine Bell launched fresh criticism at Samuel Eto’o’s leadership.
Speaking on RMC’s L’After Foot on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Bell openly questioned the administration of the FECAFOOT president. Eto’o, never one to shy away from confrontation, swiftly fired back with a cryptic but cutting response.
Bell’s Stinging Criticism of Eto’o’s Management
During his interview, Bell took a measured yet scathing approach when asked about the state of Cameroonian football under Eto’o’s leadership.
Rather than answering directly, the 70-year-old former goalkeeper employed a rhetorical prelude before detailing what he described as widespread dysfunction within the federation.
“I remember being taught in school to present arguments before reaching a conclusion. Now, you’re asking me for a conclusion without any arguments—this is going about it the wrong way,” Bell remarked before launching into a list of grievances.
He went on to highlight the numerous disputes currently surrounding FECAFOOT, suggesting that the federation’s leadership was at the heart of the turmoil.
“FECAFOOT is at odds with the Ministry of Sports, the footballers’ union, referees, clubs, CAF, ONIES… The list goes on. I’m not making this up; it’s all there for everyone to see,” Bell asserted.
He then delivered a pointed conclusion:
“In our culture, when one person is in conflict with so many others, perhaps they should take a step back and reflect. And in this case, the ‘person’ is the institution. The Federation is the problem.”
Eto’o’s Enigmatic Yet Cutting Response
Less than 24 hours later, Samuel Eto’o took to Instagram to deliver his rebuttal. Rather than engaging in a direct war of words, the former Barcelona striker posted a cryptic yet barbed message alongside an image of Bell’s appearance on RMC:
“I hope the miners were far away.”
The meaning behind Eto’o’s remark remains open to interpretation, but its tone was unmistakably sharp. Given the history of animosity between the two, the comment appeared to be a thinly veiled attack on Bell. However, the exact intent behind Eto’o’s words remains ambiguous, leaving room for speculation.
A Long-Standing Rivalry
This latest exchange is merely another chapter in a long-running feud between two of Cameroon’s most prominent football figures. Since taking charge of FECAFOOT, Eto’o has frequently been targeted by Bell, who has never shied away from criticizing his handling of the federation’s affairs.
Their animosity dates back to last December, when Bell—who chairs ONIES, the National Office of Infrastructure and Sports Equipment—was accused of inflating stadium rental fees, further straining his already tense relationship with Eto’o.
At the time, the dispute added fuel to an already simmering conflict, with both men refusing to back down.
While occasional periods of calm have surfaced, they have proven short-lived. The latest flare-up suggests that the rift between Eto’o and Bell is far from over, with both figures seemingly unwilling to let the matter rest.
As Cameroonian football navigates a period of uncertainty, the power struggle at FECAFOOT remains a major point of contention.
Whether this ongoing dispute will lead to meaningful change or simply deepen existing divisions remains to be seen.
🔴 Samuel Eto’o réagit aux propos de Joseph Antoine Bell sur Instagram :
« J’espère que les mineurs étaient loin ». 🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/q1hBCrBItF
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) March 28, 2025
