Cameroon football chief accused of diverting federation funds
Samuel Eto'o, president of Cameroon's football federation, is accused by former executives of redirecting more than 567,000 euros ($665,000) in appearance fees into his personal account. The allegations relate to payments from Russia for a friendly match in 2023. Eto'o denies all accusations, and FIFA has been contacted for comment.
The accusations center on payments tied to a 2023 friendly between Cameroon and Russia, with documents reportedly showing funds directed to Eto’o’s Qatar National Bank account. Former FECAFOOT executives say they filed complaints with FIFA’s ethics committee over a year ago, yet have received no update. Eto’o, who also sits on CAF’s executive board, has denied wrongdoing.
This is not his first disciplinary issue. In January, CAF suspended him for four national-team matches after an alleged incident during Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations loss to Morocco. He also faced a six-month ban from attending national team games for misconduct at the 2020 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, and apologized for a physical altercation outside a stadium during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
These allegations could further erode public trust in football governance across Africa, where federations often rely on international matches for revenue. If confirmed, they may prompt stricter oversight from FIFA and CAF, potentially affecting Cameroon’s hosting of major tournaments and sponsorship deals. Fans and players could see increased scrutiny of how funds are managed, though the lack of transparency in current investigations may leave many skeptical of meaningful reform.