Samuel Eto’o Submits Candidacy To Become Cameroon FA President

Samuel Eto’o has officially submitted his bid to become president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) in front of a large crowd on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old is running to head the Francophone West African country’s football governing body against interim-president Seidou Mbombo Njoya, Ivo Ichi, Jules Denis Onana and Emmanuel Maboang Kessack, who are the other candidates.

Despite Eto’o’s popularity that stretches beyond the shores of the African continent, there are concerns in some quarters that he will not be on the ballot for the elections as he holds duo nationality. The former Inter Milan star was granted Spanish nationality during his time at Barcelona.

Fecafoot elections are expected to take place on 11 December, with the Africa Cup of Nations set to start in Cameroon on 9 January.

Eto’o declared in candidature in September saying he had taken the decision out of love for Cameroon and passion for football.

The four-time African player of the year retired from football in 2019, after scoring more than 350 goals across his club career, winning the Champions League twice with Barcelona and once with Inter.

Internationally, Eto’o was the youngest player at the 1998 World Cup after making Cameroon’s squad at the age of 17.

Eto’o also went on to claim gold at the 2000 Olympics as well as two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002.