By Tata Mbunwe
The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has promised the institution will “investigate every complaint” filed against football legend, Samuel Eto’o.
Eto’o, who has been heading the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) since 2022, is being accused of match-fixing, corruption and abuse of power by a team of Cameroonian football officials.
In a recent interview with France 24, Patrice Motsepe said CAF will follow due process regarding the allegations because nobody is above the law.
“These allegations, not only in relation to Samuel Eto’o, but also in relation to others, and the critical aspect is, from a CAF perspective we have to follow due process,”he said.
“We are going to investigate every complaint, every accusation, any allegation in an ethical manner, complying with the global principle of an assumption of innocence until proven guilty.”
He added: “But it’s critically important that there’s a clear understanding; it’s not just about football, it’s also about what happens in Africa, in particular, but also in many parts of the world. None of us, starting with me as the President of CAF, none of us is above the law.”
In August last year, CAF announced that it had opened investigations into “serious” allegations of “improper conduct” by Samuel Eto’o.
The four-time African player of the year has repeatedly denied the allegations.
Eto’o’s lawyers described CAF’s announced investigation as a plot to create “negative publicity about the football legend.
Despite the allegations, which came barely one year into his mandate as Cameroon FA President, Eto’o is still being held in high esteem in the African football landscape.
Patrice Motsepe said Eto’o “will always be a football player who has made us proud,” adding that he was one of the “most talented” soccer players on the continent.
