Le Grand 9

First Published December 1, 2025

 

By Lasha Kingsly 

 

Samuel Eto’o Secures Second Term at FECAFOOT After Sweeping 85 of 87 Votes

Samuel Eto’o Fils has been re-elected President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) after recording a landslide victory, clinching 85 out of 87 votes as the lone candidate in the race.

The Elective General Assembly held on November 29 at the CAF Excellence Centre in Mbankomo drew observers from home and abroad, including representatives from CAF and FIFA. Former football greats such as Rigobert Song and Lucien Metomo were also present to witness the triumph of their former teammate, who now begins a second mandate.

Eto’o, who first ascended to the helm of FECAFOOT in December 2021 on a promise of “revolution” and modernization, oversaw a mandate marked by bold structural reforms, improved welfare for local players, and attempts to sanitize football management, despite controversies and mixed sporting results.

His re-election consolidates his influence not just as a football administrator but as one of Africa’s greatest football icons.

Stabilising The Federation

When Eto’o assumed office, FECAFOOT was emerging from a decade riddled with factional wars, court battles and two consecutive Normalisation Committees imposed by FIFA. One of his earliest victories was restoring legality to the presidency of the federation — a position previously contested and weakened by recurring electoral disputes.

 

Club Governance Overhaul

In an unprecedented move, he introduced strict administrative standards for Elite One clubs. Each club was required to operate from a formal headquarters and establish a functional board of directors. Although some clubs initially resisted these demands, the reforms signalled a push toward professionalized club management and were widely praised by governance experts.

Salary Revolution for Domestic Players

One of the most celebrated achievements of his first mandate was the dramatic increase in salaries for Elite One and Elite Two players. Monthly pay soared from a paltry 35,000 FCFA under previous regimes to 200,000 FCFA — a move that placed Cameroon among Africa’s better-paying domestic leagues. This reform was hailed as a long-overdue step in restoring dignity to local footballers, many of whom previously lived in precarious conditions.

Women’s Football Gets a New Face

The Guinness Super League, long neglected, experienced a renaissance under Eto’o’s watch. With structured salary payments, improved visibility and coordinated sponsorship, female footballers enjoyed unprecedented support. For the first time, players in the women’s league were placed under a formal and regular salary structure.

Competitions Revamped and Rebranded

The Cup Winners’ Cup was restructured and elevated, receiving a name change to the Roger Milla Super Cup in tribute to one of Africa’s football legends. This symbolic gesture strengthened the bond between the federation and the icons who helped shape its legacy.

 

A New Culture of Merit and Motivation

Eto’o introduced the Player of the Month award across the league system — accompanied by both financial and material incentives. This initiative helped highlight individual excellence and provided new motivation for players.

Corporate Sponsorship Returns After Years of Tension

Eto’o successfully negotiated major sponsorship deals, including partnerships with 1XBET and the return of MTN to Elite One football — something that had seemed unlikely after the company’s fallout with the LFPC under General Semengue. These sponsorships brought financial stability back into the national football ecosystem.

Better Logistics and Discipline for National Teams

Before the federation’s clashes with MINSEP, national teams experienced timely payment of match bonuses, improved travel logistics, and enhanced camp preparation. Hotel reservations and equipment planning were restored to professional standards, reducing the long-standing complaints that surrounded national team assignments.

Playoffs and the Return of Stadium Crowds

The introduction of a championship playoff system added competitiveness and revived fan interest. Stadium attendance surged, transforming gate takings — once an insignificant revenue stream — into a financial lifeline for many clubs.

Social Welfare For FECAFOOT Employees

A major milestone under Eto’o was the registration of all federation staff with CNPS. Many benefited for the first time from social security rights, while long-standing salary arrears inherited from previous administrations were cleared.

WADA Complex Back to Life

 

Eto’o defied bureaucratic stagnation to revive the long-abandoned WADA Complex, a project initiated in 2009 but left to rot. Today, the imposing structure is nearing completion, serving as a physical reminder of his commitment to infrastructure.

Regional Stadium Projects

His administration launched the construction of 10 proximity stadiums across the regions, including projects in Bamenda (Mankon), Bafia and Dschang. Though progress varies and some projects face delays, work continues on several sites.

Cameroon Regains Its Place in CAF Governance

Through strategic diplomacy, Cameroon regained representation in key CAF committees. Céline Eko’s election to a senior CAF role marked a significant shift — one that Cameroon had failed to achieve for years.

Training and Professional Development

Referees, club bosses and sports journalists received frequent refresher courses at the Mbankomo Sports Complex, helping them stay aligned with international standards.

Subventions Quadrupled

Annual club subventions rose from 12 million FCFA to 48 million FCFA. Clubs that provided verification of salary payments received the full amount, strengthening transparency and accountability.

Eto’o says his second term will build on these foundations despite “coordinated resistance by MINSEP and other malicious actors.”

Eto’o the Footballer: A Legacy of Excellence

Eto’o remains Africa’s most decorated player.
He won the African Player of the Year award four times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010) and finished third in the FIFA World Player of the Year rankings in 2005.

He is the only footballer to win two European trebles in consecutive seasons — with Barcelona in 2009 and Inter Milan in 2010.

With 56 goals in 118 caps, he is Cameroon’s all-time leading scorer and the highest scorer in AFCON history with 18 goals. He lifted the AFCON trophy twice (2000 and 2002), won Olympic gold in Sydney 2000, played in four World Cups, topped La Liga as Pichichi, and was once the world’s highest-paid player after joining Anzhi Makhachkala.

At Barcelona, his ability to operate from both the centre and the flanks redefined the modern striker role, often keeping stars like Thierry Henry and Henrik Larsson on the bench.

Congratulatory message of FIFA President, Gianni  Infantino 

Mr.
Samuel Eto’o
President
Cameroon Football Federation

Zurich, 29 November 2025

Subject: Re-election as President of the Cameroon Football Federation

Mr. President,

Please accept my warmest greetings and my sincere congratulations on your recent re-election as President of the Cameroon Football Federation.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued efforts, your hard work, and your significant contribution to the development of our sport and the promotion of its values in Cameroon and across Africa.

As I extend my best wishes to you and your team for a successful new term and for all the challenges ahead, I look forward, dear President, to continuing our collaboration for the growth and prosperity of football in Cameroon in the years to come.

Yours sincerely,

Gianni Infantino
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)