Iya Mohamed has been a prominent figure in Cameroonian football, serving as the head of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) since 1998, initially through a FIFA-appointed management unit. He was officially elected in 2000 and subsequently re-elected in 2005 and 2009. Mohamed has also been the general director of Sodecoton, a public company in Cameroon.
However, Mohamed has been a controversial figure, facing legal issues. In June 2023, he was placed in police custody on charges, including embezzlement, related to his role as the general director of Sodecoton. Despite these legal challenges, Mohamed was re-elected as the president of Fecafoot for a fourth consecutive mandate in June 2023.
During his tenure, Cameroon’s national team, the Indomitable Lions, achieved success by winning the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in 2000 and 2002. Mohamed’s influence extends beyond football, as he has played a role in the creation of the football club Cotonsport Garoua in 1989, with sponsorship through Sodecoton.
