Prince Chese
Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o has been handed a four-match suspension and fined $20,000 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following misconduct during Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) defeat to Morocco.
According to Zim Sports Flash, CAF’s Disciplinary Committee ruled that the 44-year old former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker violated the “principles of sportsmanship.”
The sanction means Eto’o will miss the remainder of the tournament, including the final, marking a significant blow for Cameroon’s football leadership at a critical stage of the competition.
CAF’s decision has triggered mixed reactions across the continent.
While some stakeholders have welcomed the ruling as evidence of CAF’s firm stance on discipline and governance, others argue the punishment is excessive given Eto’o’s stature, legacy, and influence within African football.
The latest sanction adds to a growing list of disciplinary issues surrounding the FECAFOOT president. In July 2024, CAF’s Disciplinary Board fined Eto’o $200,000 for breaching ethics rules after he signed a contract as a brand ambassador for a sports betting company.
Although he was cleared of match-fixing allegations, CAF found that the deal violated its ethics principles, which align with FIFA’s code prohibiting football officials from associating with betting companies.