The president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot), Samuel Eto’o, decided to take matters in hand and made public the list of his technical, administrative and medical staff to lead the Indomitable Lions. This, despite the appointments made by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education (Minsep) who contested the choices of Samuel Eto’o.
Samuel Eto’o has decided to keep Marc Brys as coach of the Indomitable Lions, alongside his assistant Joachim Mununga and his video analyst Giannis Xilouris. But, the super star refused the nominations made by the sports minister for deputy positions, preferring his own choices. Thus, François Omam-Biyik and Alioum Boukar are not retained, while Martin Ndtoungou Mpile and David Pagou take their places.
The full list of appointments made by Samuel Eto’o also includes Idriss Carlos Kameni, Thomas Nkono, Benoît Angbwa, Elie Thierry Ndoh, Serge Pensy, Nicolas Alnoudji and Dr Patrick Joël Fotso.
These appointments were made public following a session of the Emergency Committee held on May 8, 2024, extended to certain members of the Executive Committee. This decision was taken after a skirmish between the ministry and the federation, following the letter from Fifa in response to its referral by the Federation.
Fifa recalled that the choice of members of the national team management is “solely” the prerogative of the Federation. However, the international football body relied on the Minsep-Fécafoot Convention of February 5, 2015, not to fully grant its favors to its member.
Samuel Eto’o thus used the Fifa letter to justify his choices, but forgot that the obligatory opinion of the Minister of Sports is required in the choice of the management staff of the Indomitable Lions.
The State’s reaction is expected, at a time when the list of players selected by Marc Brys for the next deadlines is also expected on Friday. In the meantime, the pre-convocations have not yet been sent to the employing clubs of the Indomitable Lions.
It is clear that Samuel Eto’o made a unilateral decision which risks leading to a crisis within Cameroonian football.
To be followed closely…
