Samuel Eto’o has dismissed what he describes as a coordinated campaign against him following renewed questions over a €567,570 payment reportedly linked to Cameroon’s 2023 friendly against Russia.
The controversy centres on claims by former FECAFOOT officials that the money was paid into an account bearing Eto’o’s name at Qatar National Bank instead of an official federation account. The former officials have also alleged that they brought the matter before FIFA’s Ethics Committee but received no response.
The allegations have not been proven.
Responding to the growing scrutiny, the FECAFOOT president suggested the criticism was linked to his increasingly outspoken position on issues affecting African football.
“It only took me to speak up to defend our interests, the interests of Africa, for them to all be out,” Eto’o said.
He further alleged that the criticism was being amplified by journalists sympathetic to those targeting him, pointing to what he described as “the same attacks” and “the same language elements” being circulated almost simultaneously.
Eto’o, who has been a vocal supporter of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, said his willingness to openly defend African interests has made him a target.
He argued that Africans should not be discouraged from expressing their views or defending their positions in football governance.
“We have the right to speak. We have the right to defend our interests. We have the right to think and decide for our football,” he said.
Eto’o maintained that he would not be silenced by the criticism and would continue to speak out on issues concerning African football.
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