An X-RAY Of Eto’o’s One Year In Power As FECAFOOT President

December 11, 2021 – clocked one year since Samuel Eto’o was elected president of the Cameroon Football Federation. He arrived Young and bold, driven by a strong ambition to transform football in the land of the Indomitable Lions.

It was tagged a real revolution that occurred on Saturday, December 11, 2021 in Cameroonian football. For the second time since 1992, a former footballer was elected president of FECAFOOT.

Samuel Eto’o beat Seidou Mbombo Njoya whom he helped in 2018. The former forward of the Indomitable Lions obtained a score of 43 votes against 31.

Courtesy the landslide victory, he became
18th boss of Cameroonian football federation and the day was etched in his memory. “I will remember today (December 11, 2021, Ed.) as one of the proudest moments of my life. I am deeply grateful to have been elected new president of FECAFOOT,” rejoiced Samuel Eto’o on Twitter in the evening of his victory.

A year later, the time for a first assessment has come.

Samuel Eto’o had promised to develop the game, and give honor to professional football.

This involved: making the Elite championships and the Cup more attractive; and to bring more credibility to the results of the matches through more transparency around the arbitration.

Regarding the viability of the clubs’ economic model, another campaign promise, Eto’o maintained the subsidy with the commitment to double it next season. Thus, each D1 clubs, for example, will receive an envelope of 48 million CFA francs, while the champions will now receive 100 million CFA francs. There is an increase in the minimum wage of players from 100,000 to 200,000 CFA francs from the next season.

Women’s Football has been no exception. Even if there are still loopholes, it is clear that the Guinness Super League has gained in attractiveness and competitiveness.

As proof, several local players were able to secure their places at the last women’s AFCON in Morocco. Some have thus been able, thanks to their skill, to win contracts with professional clubs in Europe.

Other promises kept: the organization of a national youth football championship and a specific competition for under 17s throughout the country.

Equally, the federation has made operational the Cameroon Youth Football League and increased funding for youth football.

An agreement was signed between FECAFOOT and the National Social Insurance Fund (Cnps) for the social protection of players, coaches and referees. The project is well on track.

Samuel Eto’o aims to continue building infrastructure. He announced the completion of the construction/rehabilitation works of the Odza Technical Center. The latter added the construction and development of three regional technical centers, 40 municipal stadiums (4 per region) by 2030. The modernization of headquarters of the regional leagues and the finalization of the construction work of the headquarters of FECAFOOT.

All has not been rosy, however. Twelve months after his election, certain promises are slow to take real shape. The quadruple African Golden Ball winner had, for example, promised the signing of a FECAFOOT – LFPC agreement. Only that, as soon as he was elected, the dissolution of the LFPC was maintained in favor of a Transitional Professional Football Council (CTFP) where he appoints and dismisses as he pleases.

During his campaign Samuel Eto’o also promised the restructuring of the specialized leagues. But he has been slow to keep that promise.