Ahead of the opening of this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, a team of journalists wrote a column analyzing the Cameroon Football Federation.
Samuel Eto’o has taken drastic action. The Cameroonian football star delivered a fatal blow to Cameroon’s Sports Minister and the head coach of the Cameroon national team.
This marks the end of a months-long public conflict that has swept through Cameroon’s football scene. The Sports Minister, who holds authority over club finances and contract signings, claimed he had the final say on everything—from the coach to the arrangement of training camps, without exception.
As a result, Eto’o went through a long period of difficulty. He pushed forward with his own plans, even appointing his own staff on match days, forcing the head coach’s assistants to watch from the stands.
Eto’o was re-elected as President of the Cameroon Football Federation on November 29, and after his victory, he once again implemented high-pressure tactics.
Eto’o will now be able to return to the dressing room and restructure his national team. Who are the first victims of this upheaval? André Onana and his inner circle—especially those present when a letter addressed to Eto’o was read.
Players such as Michael Ngadeu, Eric Choupo-Moting, Martin Hongla, and Vincent Aboubakar were all eliminated from the squad by Eto’o.
According to a recently leaked phone call recording from the former head coach, Aboubakar “dreamed of surpassing Eto’o as the all-time top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations, and Eto’o is the person Onana hates the most.”
In response, Eto’o personally selected Christian Koffane (Bayer Leverkusen) and Eric Ebimbe (Stade Brest), both of whom he personally scouted.
He chose David Pagou (along with Ntongo Mpile) to replace the former coach; Pagou was already a member of the coaching staff at the time. Although the Federation President claimed otherwise, insiders generally believe that the President was definitely consulted before this decision was made.
