Samuel Eto’o has won his appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after challenging the Confederation of African Football (CAF)’s decision to exclude him from the race for a position on its Executive Committee.
The court overturned CAF’s ruling, reinstating the former Cameroonian striker’s eligibility to participate in the elections scheduled for March 12, 2025, in Cairo.
A legendary former player for clubs such as FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea, Eto’o is currently the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot). However, he has been involved in several controversies in recent years, including a FIFA-imposed ban in September 2024 for offensive behavior and a €180,000 fine from CAF over commercial partnerships deemed incompatible with the values of the sport.
The CAS ruled that CAF had not sufficiently justified Eto’o’s exclusion, thereby clearing the way for his candidacy. In the upcoming elections, he will seek a seat on the CAF Executive Committee, alongside current president Patrice Motsepe, who is running unopposed for a second term.
