Cameroon Football Federation rejects Samuel Eto'o's resignation as President

Samuel Eto'o's decision to resign following the recent accusations leveled against him has been has been rejected by the Cameroonian Football Federation.

In a dramatic turn of events, football legend Samuel Eto'o tendered his resignation as president of the Cameroon Football Federation on Monday, only to have it swiftly rejected by the federation's executive committee.

Eto'o's Turbulent Reign

Eto'o, a four-time winner of the African Player of the Year award, has been embroiled in a storm of allegations, including improper conduct, match-fixing, and corruption during his tenure as president. 

The saga took a new twist when the federation disclosed that Eto'o initiated his resignation during a meeting held in Cameroon's capital, Yaoundé, where the national team's performance at the Africa Cup of Nations was being evaluated.

The federation's statement revealed that Eto'o had initially offered to step down, extending the invitation to fellow committee members "to do likewise in good faith." However, the executive committee convened, deliberated, and ultimately chose to reject Eto'o's resignation. 

Instead, they unanimously expressed their confidence in him to continue guiding Cameroon football towards reconstruction and development, aligning with his plan that was adopted during the elective general assembly on December 11, 2021.

Uncertainty Looms Over Cameroon Football

The statement provided no further details regarding the meeting's outcomes, leaving the future of Cameroon's coach, Rigobert Song, in limbo following a disappointing Africa Cup campaign.

Cameroon, a five-time champion, had a rollercoaster ride in the tournament, narrowly securing a place in the group stage and later suffering elimination at the hands of Nigeria in the round of 16.

Eto'o's presidency had already faced scrutiny due to corruption allegations in the past year. Last week, The Athletic reported the existence of WhatsApp messages, emails, letters, and audio recordings allegedly supporting a wide range of accusations against Eto'o, including match-fixing, abuse of power, incitement of violence, and the spread of false information. 

FIFA's ethics committee and the Confederation of African Football are both investigating these allegations.

Challenges in Cameroonian Soccer

Questions have also been raised about Eto'o's ambassadorial role with a sports betting company, potentially violating the federation's codes. Before Eto'o assumed the presidency, Cameroonian soccer had grappled with various problems, including government interference, corruption allegations, and broken promises from the soccer leadership.

Despite the challenges faced during his tenure, Eto'o's legacy as a football icon remains intact, having represented Cameroon at four FIFA World Cups between 1998 and 2014.

Related content