The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected Samuel Eto’o’s candidacy for a position on its executive committee, citing ethical concerns and regulatory irregularities.

The decision, made public following a CAF Governance Committee meeting on January 24, 2025, marks a significant setback for the Cameroon Football Federation (FÉCAFOOT) president, who had hoped to ascend to a key role in African football governance.

Eto’o, widely celebrated for his illustrious playing career, has faced growing scrutiny since assuming the FÉCAFOOT presidency.

His rejection stems primarily from sanctions imposed by the FIFA Ethics and Discipline Committee over incidents during the U20 World Cup in Colombia and his controversial collaboration with the betting platform 1XBet.

CAF had already sanctioned Eto’o in July 2024 for the latter association, which many critics viewed as a conflict of interest.

Despite this obstacle, the former FC Barcelona striker remains defiant. In a recent statement to RFI, he vowed to fight for his candidacy, asserting his right to due process.

“No one can prevent me from being a candidate… We have enough evidence to prove our innocence,” Eto’o declared, signalling his intent to appeal the decision through appropriate legal channels.

This development highlights the challenges Eto’o faces as he navigates the complexities of football administration, a far cry from his glory days on the pitch.