The Cameroon Football Federation has declined Samuel Eto’o’s resignation as its leader subsequent to the Indomitable Lions’ unpropitious departure from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations during the round of 16 phase.
In the wake of the team’s untimely exit from the AFCON campaign following a 0-2 loss to Nigeria, Eto’o tendered his resignation in response to the team’s subpar performance.
Nevertheless, FECAFOOT proclaimed in a statement on Monday that it had rebuffed his resignation.
The statement articulated, “The Executive Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation convened a session this Monday, February 5 at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel. The primary focus was to assess the senior men’s national team’s performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
“At the commencement of the meeting, the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Mr. Eto’o Fils Samuel, tendered his resignation to the members of the federal executive body, encouraging them to follow suit in good faith.
“After thorough discussions and subsequent deliberations, the members of the Executive Committee elected to uphold their existing mandates and unanimously declined the President’s resignation, thereby reaffirming their trust in him to persist with the same vigor in the reconstruction and advancement of Cameroon football at all levels as outlined in his plan ratified by the elective General Assembly of December 11, 2021.”
Eto’o, revered as one of the preeminent Cameroonian footballers of all time, boasts an illustrious record of 56 goals in 118 appearances for his country.
Following a distinguished career with esteemed clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea, where he clinched the Champions League thrice and AFCON twice, he assumed the helm of FECAFOOT in December 2021.
Cameroon currently occupies the 46th position in the global rankings, standing seventh in Africa.
While they secured a commendable third-place finish at AFCON 2021, their early elimination in the round of 16 this time, coupled with their group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup, has raised concerns about their performance trajectory.
AFP
