Former Cameroonian football star Samuel Eto’o has secured a seat on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee by acclamation. The election took place in Cairo on Wednesday, with the 44-year-old emerging as the sole candidate representing the central Africa region.
Eto’o’s appointment came just days after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned a CAF-imposed ban, which had previously sidelined the ex-Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea forward. His elevation to the executive body occurred during CAF’s extraordinary general assembly, an annual gathering of top football officials from across the continent.
The current president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Eto’o now steps into a key decision-making role within African football. His election coincided with the confirmation of South African businessman Patrice Motsepe serving a second four-year term as CAF president, running unopposed. Motsepe assumed office in 2021, replacing Malagasy Ahmad Ahmad, who FIFA suspended over financial misconduct.
CAF secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba praised Motsepe’s impact on African football governance, stating, “Patrice was a gift for African football. In 2021, CAF was a toxic body. He brought good governance to all levels of the organisation.”
Eto’o’s Controversial Road to Leadership
Eto’o’s path to CAF’s executive committee has not been without controversy. Last year, CAF banned him after ruling that he had “seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity, and sportsmanship” by acting as a brand ambassador for a betting company. In addition to the suspension, he was fined $200,000 (€185,000), though this was later overturned.
Beyond the CAF ban, Eto’o has faced other disciplinary issues. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he was caught on video assaulting a football supporter outside a stadium. Following the incident, he publicly apologised, stating, “I would like to apologise for losing my temper and reacting in a way that does not match my personality. It was an unfortunate incident.”
In 2024, FIFA handed him a six-month ban from attending all Cameroon men’s and women’s national team matches due to an incident at the Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Colombia. The world football governing body found him guilty of “offensive behaviour, violation of the principles of fair play, and misconduct of players and officials.”
Eto’o has also had a turbulent relationship with Cameroon’s national team. Belgian Marc Brys took on the role of men’s head coach in 2024, and Eto’o often clashed with him over team management decisions.
A Glorious Playing Career
Despite the controversies, Samuel Eto’o remains one of Africa’s most decorated footballers. Born in Douala, Cameroon, he enjoyed a stellar career, winning three UEFA Champions League titles and earning the title of African Footballer of the Year on four occasions.
He played a crucial role in Cameroon’s triumph at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was instrumental in the country’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victories in 2000 and 2002. Eto’o represented Cameroon in four World Cups and six AFCON tournaments, holding the record for the most goals scored in the continental championship with 18 goals.
With his election to the CAF executive committee, Eto’o now has an opportunity to shape the future of African football.
