By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), a four-match ban and a $20,000 fine for alleged misconduct during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarter-final match between Cameroon and host nation Morocco.
The disciplinary action was announced on Thursday, January 15, 2026, following a review by CAF’s Disciplinary Board. The board said Eto’o violated sportsmanship standards outlined in CAF statutes and disciplinary codes, citing his behaviour during Cameroon’s 2-0 loss in Rabat on January 9.
Observers reported that Eto’o was seen making angry gestures toward officials, including the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, in the presence of CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe.
Under the ruling, Eto’o is barred from attending the next four official CAF matches involving Cameroon teams and must pay a $20,000 (about ₦15 million) fine, according to CAF’s statement. The ban applies to stadium attendance during AFCON fixtures and other designated CAF events.
FECAFOOT expressed strong disappointment with the ruling, describing it as lacking “explicit justification” and raising concerns about the fairness and speed of the disciplinary process. The federation said it plans to appeal the decision through appropriate channels and reaffirmed its support for Eto’o.
The sanctions come as part of CAF’s broader review of several incidents during AFCON quarter-final matches, which included tensions between Cameroon and Morocco as well as other confrontations involving players and officials.
Eto’o, a former star striker and influential figure in African football, has served as FECAFOOT president since 2021. His tenure has featured both efforts to reform the federation and moments of controversy, with this latest action adding to ongoing debates about leadership conduct in African football governance.
Morocco will now play Senegal in the AFCON final, while Cameroon’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals.
