Samuel Eto’o takes charge ahead of crucial Cameroon-Kenya AFCON qualifier
Cameroon football legend Samuel Eto’o has taken decisive action ahead of the crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 qualifier between Cameroon and Kenya, scheduled for October 11. As president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), Eto’o is poised to assert his authority in a move that appears to further his influence within the country’s football administration.
Eto’o’s latest maneuver comes amid ongoing tensions with the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, in what has been described as a power struggle.
The dispute has heightened in recent months, exacerbated by FIFA’s warnings about political interference in the running of football matters in Cameroon.
The former striker previously succeeded in securing Garoua as the host city for Cameroon’s match against Namibia, which ended in a 1-0 victory on September 7.
He also unilaterally chose Douala to host the upcoming fixture against Kenya, avoiding opposition from government officials.
Now, Eto’o is set to chair the key preparatory meeting for the Kenya match, a responsibility that traditionally fell under the Sports Minister’s jurisdiction.
A Fecafoot press release dated September 25 announced the formation of a preparatory committee for the upcoming qualifier, which will be chaired by Eto’o.
This marks a significant shift in the organizational structure for national team fixtures.
“In application of the provisions of the Convention signed between Minsep and Fecafoot on November 5, 2015, the President of the Cameroon Football Federation (…) has set up the Central Organizing Committee for the Cameroon vs. Kenya match, scheduled for October 11, 2024 at the Japoma Omnisports Stadium in Douala,” the statement reads.
Eto’o will personally oversee the first meeting of this committee on September 30 at the Krystal Hotel in Douala, marking the first time in the Marc Brys coaching era that such a meeting will be chaired by the Fecafoot president.
The decision to take direct control of these preparations signals Eto’o’s determination to exert his leadership and influence over Cameroon’s football operations.
However, it remains unclear whether Cameroon’s head coach Marc Brys will attend the meeting, given the reported strains in his relationship with Eto’o.
Tensions have been simmering between the two, particularly as Eto’o did not attend the preparatory meetings for the team’s previous matches under Brys in May and September. The absence of Eto’o at those gatherings has only deepened the divide between the coach and the Fecafoot president.
As Cameroon prepares for this pivotal AFCON qualifier, the internal dynamics between Eto’o, the Sports Ministry, and coach Brys will be closely watched.
The stakes are high, with both the team’s qualification hopes and the administrative leadership of Cameroonian football hanging in the balance.
Whether these power struggles will affect the team’s performance on the pitch remains to be seen, but Eto’o’s increasing involvement off the field signals a new phase in his post-playing career as a football executive.
🔴🔴 #PRESSRELEASE pic.twitter.com/Z7KNpqSnCy
— Fecafoot-Officiel (@FecafootOfficie) September 27, 2024
