CAPE TOWN, March 7, 2025 (Naija247news) — African football is never short of drama, and this time, it’s legendary striker Samuel Eto’o at the center of the storm.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After being kicked out of the race for a seat on the CAF Executive Committee, Eto’o took his fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) — and the court has now ruled in his favour, clearing the way for him to contest at the CAF elective congress next week in Cairo.
How We Got Here: CAF’s Initial Disqualification
Back in January 2025, CAF’s governance committee disqualified Eto’o from running in the March 12 CAF executive committee elections. No official reason was given, but many suspected it was tied to his recent controversies.
Never one to back down from a fight, Eto’o filed an urgent appeal to CAS, the highest legal body in global sports. After a hearing on March 3, 2025, CAS ruled in favour of the four-time African Footballer of the Year, ordering CAF to reinstate him as a candidate.
In a statement, CAS said:
“The CAS Panel considered that it was presented sufficient information to overturn the CAF Executive Committee’s decision concerning Eto’o’s ineligibility.”
With this ruling, the CAF Extraordinary General Assembly meeting on March 12 will have to consider Eto’o’s candidacy, putting him back in the ring for one of African football’s most powerful positions.
Why CAF May Have Had Issues With Eto’o
Though CAF didn’t officially give reasons for disqualifying Eto’o, the signs were clear. Eto’o’s bumpy relationship with both CAF and FIFA has made him a controversial figure — beloved by fans, but viewed with suspicion by football powerbrokers.
- September 2024: FIFA banned Eto’o from attending Cameroon national team matches for six months after he allegedly verbally attacked match officials at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
- Earlier in 2024: CAF itself suspended Eto’o for allegedly violating integrity and ethical standards when he took up a paid role as an ambassador for a betting company — a move seen as conflicting with his role as president of Cameroon’s Football Federation (FECAFOOT).
- CAF initially hit him with a $200,000 fine, but the ban and fine were lifted on appeal.
Despite all this, Eto’o’s reputation as a fearless fighter — on and off the pitch — kept him in the headlines.
Elections in Chaos as CAF Fails to Release Full Candidate List
The upcoming CAF elections, set for March 12 in Cairo, are already surrounded by confusion and secrecy. Though the deadline for nominations closed in November 2024, CAF has yet to officially publish the full list of candidates.
One thing is certain — CAF President Patrice Motsepe is running unopposed for a second four-year term, meaning his seat is already secured.
With Eto’o back in the race, the battle for the executive committee seats will be closely watched. The committee plays a key role in shaping policies, competitions, and development programs across African football.
Eto’o: From Pitch Legend to Football Politician
Eto’o’s legendary status as one of Africa’s greatest-ever players — with a glittering career at Barcelona, Inter Milan, and the Cameroon national team — is undisputed. But his transition to football administration has been anything but smooth.
Since taking over as president of FECAFOOT in 2021, Eto’o has made enemies within Cameroonian football circles and beyond. His leadership style — brash, confrontational, and unapologetically direct — has drawn both praise and condemnation.
Supporters hail him as a reformer trying to clean up decades of corruption and incompetence in Cameroonian football. Critics, however, say he’s autocratic, making decisions without consultation and creating unnecessary fightswith officials and journalists.
What’s Next for Eto’o and African Football?
With the CAS ruling, Eto’o’s name will officially be on the ballot at CAF’s Extraordinary General Assembly on March 12, 2025. Whether the delegates will vote for or against him remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — his presence guarantees fireworks.
CAF, already under pressure to modernize and improve governance, will need to balance political fights with the urgent need to develop football infrastructure, boost sponsorship deals, and restore confidence in African football governance.
Eto’o, who famously called himself “the best number 9 in the world” during his playing days, now wants to be the most influential voice in African football politics.
Will CAF voters back the legend or block him again? We’ll find out next week.
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