A complaint has been filed against Samuel Eto'o, the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), over the financial management of four friendly matches played by the national team, the Lions Indomptables, between 2022 and 2023. The complaint was lodged by the Association of Amateur Football Clubs of Cameroon (ACFAC) with the Special Criminal Court (TCS) on September 22, 2026. The ACFAC is seeking an investigation into the financial flows related to these matches.
The four matches in question were against Uzbekistan and South Korea in September 2022, Mexico in June 2023, and Russia in October 2023. According to Abdouraman Hamadou Babba, the president of ACFAC, the association suspects irregularities in the management of the financial returns from these matches. The complaint alleges that funds from these matches were not properly managed, with some payments being made to Eto'o's personal account in Qatar.
The match against Russia on October 12, 2023, is particularly contentious. The Russian Football Federation had agreed to pay 567,570 euros to FECAFOOT, but two transfers, amounting to 455,056 and 112,514 euros, were made to Eto'o's personal account at the Qatar National Bank in Doha, rather than to the official FECAFOOT account. A similar mechanism was allegedly used for the match against Mexico, with a payment of 500,000 dollars transiting through the same Qatari account.
By filing the complaint with the TCS, the ACFAC is characterizing the alleged actions as embezzlement of public funds, a serious criminal offense. The TCS has jurisdiction over financial crimes involving public funds exceeding 50 million FCFA, a threshold far exceeded by the 372 million FCFA at stake in the Russian match alone. The ACFAC's move is part of a broader dispute over the management of FECAFOOT's funds, which are considered social assets according to the federation's statutes.
Abdouraman Hamadou Babba stated that the ACFAC followed normal procedures in filing the complaint and is seeking an investigation into the management of the four friendly matches. He also announced that the association's member clubs will be filing a separate lawsuit against Eto'o. This development is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding Eto'o's presidency of FECAFOOT, which has been marked by internal disputes and allegations of mismanagement.
Eto'o's presidency of FECAFOOT has been contentious since his election in December 2021, which was disputed by Abdouraman Hamadou Babba before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. While the recent African Women's Cup of Nations title won by the Lionnes Indomptables provided temporary respite, tensions have resurfaced. The complaint filed by ACFAC highlights a difficult governance situation at FECAFOOT, with other disputes, including one involving Eto'o and Ekene Ngueng, pending before FIFA.
The TCS will now consider the admissibility of the complaint and may open an investigation. According to Abdouraman Hamadou Babba, the issue goes beyond sports, affecting Cameroon's international image. The case has significant implications for football governance in Cameroon and may lead to further scrutiny of FECAFOOT's financial management.
Key points
- The complaint filed by ACFAC alleges irregularities in the financial management of four friendly matches by FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto'o.
- The dispute involves payments made to Eto'o's personal account in Qatar, rather than to the official FECAFOOT account.
- The case has significant implications for football governance in Cameroon and may lead to further scrutiny of FECAFOOT's financial management.
