Eto’o wins appeal, eligible for CAF Executive Committee Election

Samuel Eto’o, the legendary Cameroonian footballer, has won his appeal to run for a position on the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) executive committee.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned CAF’s decision to exclude him from the election, citing that they had “sufficient information” to reverse the ruling.

Eto’o, who has been the president of the Cameroon Football Federation since 2021, will now be eligible to contest the elections scheduled for March 12.

Samuel Eto’o, during his playing days for Cameroon

This development adds a new layer of intrigue to the elections, as Eto’o’s presence could significantly impact the outcome.

The 43-year-old football legend has had a controversial tenure as the head of Cameroonian football, facing a six-month ban from FIFA for misconduct and a $200,000 fine from CAF for promoting a betting company.

However, his legal team successfully appealed the fine in February.

Samuel Eto’o career file

As a four-time African Player of the Year, Eto’o brings a level of star power and influence that could shape the future of African football.

Born on March 10, 1981, in Nkon, Cameroon, he began his football journey at Kadji Sports Academy in Douala before moving to Real Madrid’s youth academy in 1997.p

His professional career took off when he joined Real Madrid in 1997, but he struggled to break into the first team.

He was subsequently loaned out to Espanyol in 2000, where he gained valuable experience playing in La Liga.

Later that year, Eto’o moved to Mallorca, where he established himself as a prolific goal-scorer and helped the team qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

In 2004, Eto’o joined Barcelona, where he formed a deadly attacking trio with Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.

During his time at Barcelona, Eto’o won numerous titles, including two La Liga championships, the UEFA Champions League, and the Copa del Rey.

His impressive performances earned him four African Player of the Year awards.

Eto’o’s success at Barcelona caught the attention of Inter Milan, who signed him in 2009.

He played a crucial role in Inter’s treble-winning season, scoring important goals in the UEFA Champions League and the Coppa Italia.

Eto’o’s time at Inter was marked by his exceptional goal-scoring form, which earned him the Golden Boot award in the 2010-2011 season.

In 2011, Eto’o joined Anzhi Makhachkala, where he became one of the highest-paid players in the world.

He played for the Russian club for two seasons before moving to Chelsea in 2013.

Eto’o’s international career was equally impressive. He made his debut for the Cameroon national team in 1997 and went on to earn 118 caps, scoring 56 goals.

He represented Cameroon in four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning the tournament twice in 2000 and 2002.

He was named African Player of the Year four times and won numerous titles with his clubs, including the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Coppa Italia.

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