The recent WAFCON continental victory of the lionesses of Cameroon, 3-0 against Malawi, has prompted FECAFOOT’s President, Samuel Eto’o, to throw jabs at “critics”, address corruption allegation, and give a big punch at mediocrity. His post feels a lot like it was kept in a vault, awaiting the appropriate moment to go public. 

The indomitable lionesses (the new queens of African football), and the Cameroonian football community were still enjoying the beautiful victory when the federation’s president took to social media to remind everyone about his vision at the helm of Cameroonian football to: restore its continental grandeur, modernizing professional structures, and elevating player welfare. 

From the very moment he announced his candidacy to lead the football governing body, Samuel Eto’o has been met with multiple challenges; his contested victory against outgoing president, Seidou Mbombo Njoya, critics and government leaders. His brawl with the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, over the appointment of the Belgian coach, Marc Brys, put him at an even uncomfortable position.

Eto’o isn’t new to assails and provocations as he’s had a fair share of it during his professional football career some of which include: the monkey chant (Real Zaragoza, 2005 & 2006), Cagliari Racist Abuse (2010), where during an Inter Milan match, Cagliari fans directed explicit racist chants at him.

Despite that, he always seems to have the last laugh. 

The four-time African Footballer of the Year (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010) has been firm about eradicating mediocrity from the football sector. “I just think there are selfish people, as everywhere, who prefer to deal with mediocre individuals” he said during an Interview with Digital B agency, adding that “the reflex of the mediocre is to block those who are brilliant beneath them. That, I cannot accept”.

Taking him at his words and measuring it against his action, we can attempt to draft a balance sheet.

 The former Cameroonian national team captain, consecutive Champions League winner with Barcelona and Inter Milan, has checked a couple of items off his laundry list of reforms including: the completion of the stalled Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) headquarters building, raised the minimum wage for local football players (from 100,000 XAF to 200,000 XAF for Elite One, 75,000 XAF for Elite Two and 50,000 XAF to 75,000 XAF for the women’s league). Elite One club got a surge in subsidy, from 11 million FCFA to 48 million FCFA, Elite Two subventions from 7 million FCFA to 14 million FCFA. 

He just recorded his biggest achievement as FECAFOOT president with winning the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title. This is the first in the history of the federation (though he almost tossed the 30-year streak in Lionesses’ participation in the competition). The Indomitable Lionesses had lost the 2004, 2014 and 2016 finals, all against Nigeria. 

The former Chelsea star also promised to construct at least 10 stadiums during his mandate. Great promises begot great expectations!

Samuel Eto’o’s attack on mediocrity and individuals with “untraceable fortune" gets us to look even closer at his administrative and public records. For someone who’s giving a punch at fraud, Eto’o has been tagged to embezzlement allegation by the Association of Cameroonian Football Club Presidents (ACFPC). This group accused Eto’o of diverting sponsorship funds (from MTN, TIOF, and 1xBET), mismanagement of FECAFOOT resources and lack of transparency in his leadership. 

An LA-based law firm, Nsahlai Law Firm, representing a coalition of Cameroonian football leaders accuse Eto’o of wire fraud, money laundering, tax fraud and conspiracy. The petition filed against Samuel Eto’o stated that he allegedly misused about $1.5 million (roughly 825 million XAF) linked to international friendlies against Mexico, Russia, and Uzbekistan. “This is not an attack on Eto’o the legend, whose career remains untouchable, but about ensuring football governance in Cameroon meets standards of excellence.” Remarked the lead attorney, Emmanuel Nsahlai.

That’s not all. FIFA Disciplinary Committee had also announced it had sanctioned Samuel Eto’o, with a six-month ban from attending matches for breaches of articles 13 (Offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play) and 14 (Misconduct of players and officials) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

And if mediocrity is any point in time where you cannot attest to a thing or a person being either great, poor or average, Eto’o is much guilty in his “high court of standards”. As reported by the BBC, Eto’o was found guilty of misconduct by a Confederation of African Football (Caf) disciplinary panel and handed “a four-match ban and fined $20,000 (11.1 million XAF)”. 

Again, during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Eto’o fell short on ways that do not represent his “personality” he himself noted. “A video posted online appeared to show the 41-year-old… lashing out at a man” the BBC sports reported. To which he pledged to continue to resist the relentless provocation and daily harassment.

In his post, Eto’o closed his war on mediocrity with a tribute to the head of state. “And today, a special thought for His Excellency Mr. President of the Republic, Paul Biya: only this Women's Africa Cup of Nations was missing”, he wrote. Ending his outing by thanking the ailing 93-year-old head of state, President Biya, who has been absent for over 70 days, is definitely fishing in troubled waters.

Samuel Eto’o’s vision for Cameroonian and African football has been met with lots of obstacles, as any ambitious project should be. Irrespective of the controversies around his leadership style, administrative decision and uncertain political alignment — no one can take from the fact that he is without a doubt one of the greatest football players the continent has produced. His most notable stride is being the only player in football history to win back-to-back European continental trebles with two different clubs (Barcelona in 2008–09 and Inter Milan in 2009-10). How about that?