By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
The former Cameroonian international Samuel Eto’o has just been elected president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) with 43 votes, ahead of the incumbent president, who received 31 votes.
The former Barcelona and Inter player, defeated Seidou Mbombo Njoya, who was elected in 2018, but his election was contested by several actors of Cameroonian soccer, and canceled in mid-January by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The 40-year-old former striker had announced his intention to run for the post on September 22, saying it was time to “launch the reconstruction of Cameroonian soccer”. Mr. Eto’o said that the ousted president of Fecafoot had “failed miserably”.
“We have to bring footballers to the centre of our policies,” he said afterwards. “It is our role to ensure that those who play this discipline make a decent living out of it.”
The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea star has also promised to construct at least 10 stadiums during his mandate.
“I’ve spoken to the business community and we’re certain we’ll get the right investors who can accompany us in fulfilling our goals,” Eto’o had said prior to the polls.
Eto’o’s candidacy had triggered popular attention with the proceedings of the gathering broadcast live on national Cameroon television.
He will now be head of Cameroon’s FA (Fecafoot) when the country hosts the Africa Cup of Nations in January and February.
Cameroon will host the African Cup of Nations from 9 January to 6 February. It was stripped of the right to host the tournament in 2019 because of delays in preparation and security concerns.