Disturbing revelations have emerged about the alleged involvement of Fécafoot president Samuel Eto'o in match-fixing, after he promised to lift a club from Elite 2 into the top flight.
Samuel Eto'o is in turmoil. A new episode has been added to the series of controversies surrounding the Fécafoot president in recent times. Just a few days after his former vice-president, Njalla Quan, made sweeping statements accusing him of having sidelined André Onana from the national team, the Cameroon soccer boss is once again in the spotlight. This time, he is suspected of involvement in match-fixing.
It's unprecedented in the history of Cameroonian soccer. And yet! An audio recording, widely circulated on social networks since Tuesday July 18, 2023, features Samuel Eto'o in a telephone conversation with the president of local second division club Opopo, better known as Victoria United.
When Eto'o decides a club will move up to D1
In this exchange, which dates back to January 2023, Samuel Eto'o is heard pledging to take the club up to the top division, declaring: "Opopo must go up to the first division. That's our goal (...) It's our Federation. There are four of us; you and 2 others. Victoria United will go up. A few months later, the club, which had been at the mid table indeed was promoted and finished as champions after second-placed Stade de Bertoua was declared forfeit by Fécafoot. In addition, several referees were suspended by the Yaoundé-based body. In the course of the season, many refereeing protest were filed against Opopo.
These revelations raise questions about Samuel Eto'o's possible influence in deciding match results, thus diverting the outcome of matches from their real outcome on the field, to be decided in the offices of Fécafoot. Captain Feutcheu, President of Djiko FC and resigning member of the Fécafoot Executive Committee, confirms these concerns: "What made me resign was President Eto'o Fils' response. I spoke to him on the phone [...] and he replied: 'I can relegate any team I want'".
