Cameroonian authorities have initiated a thorough investigation into allegations of match-fixing involving Samuel Eto’o. The former Barcelona striker, who has held the position of president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) since December 2021, faces accusations of being involved in a match-fixing scandal related to Cameroon’s second-tier football in July.
These allegations emerged following the release of an audio recording in which Eto’o purportedly conversed with someone believed to be Valentine Nkwain, known as ‘Bobdidy’ and the president of Victoria United.
According to reports from Camfoot, Eto’o is alleged to have promised to manipulate matches to ensure the promotion of Victoria United from the second division, a claim that both Eto’o and Nkwain vehemently deny. Nkwain insists that the voice on the recording is not his.
The police, as confirmed in a letter seen by The Guardian, have commenced an investigation into potential “abuse of authority and corruption.” Key witnesses connected to the case have been interviewed. Furthermore, this investigation is expected to delve into broader allegations of corruption within Fecafoot during Eto’o’s tenure, potentially involving up to 40 individuals.
In the incriminating recording, Eto’o is purported to have discussed tactics to influence the outcome of a game in which Victoria suffered a 1-0 defeat in December of the previous year. He allegedly stated, “there are things we can do,” but emphasized the need for discretion, adding, “Don’t worry, we’ll give you your three points, and we will suspend the referee.”
He reiterated the goal of promoting Victoria United to the first division, stating, “This is our goal. This is our federation. Victoria United will go up.” Indeed, Victoria was subsequently promoted in April.
In June, Eto’o clarified to the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that he was merely conversing with a friend who invested in football and aspired to elevate his club’s status in Cameroon. Eto’o affirmed that he had reassured his friend that he would do everything in his power to prevent any refereeing errors against his club.
This development follows previous calls from a group of Cameroonian football officials urging FIFA to take action against Eto’o due to a series of public incidents, including a physical altercation with an Algerian journalist during the World Cup in Qatar the previous year. This group, including Pierre Semengue, president of the Professional Football League of Cameroon, jointly addressed FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Patrice Motsepe, expressing concerns over Eto’o’s continued presence in Fecafoot’s leadership.
While CAF initiated an investigation into “certain alleged improper conduct” by Eto’o in early August, no concrete action has been taken to date. The group’s letter highlights FIFA’s silence in response to numerous complaints and reminders from Cameroonian football stakeholders, questioning the organization’s commitment to sporting ethics and match integrity.
Furthermore, the letter criticizes FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his recent meeting with Eto’o in France to discuss “football development,” asserting that it underscores a concerning trend where ethics and exemplary leadership are compromised in African football governance. The letter questions whether FIFA and UEFA would remain silent if a European football federation president were suspected of match-fixing with audio evidence to support the allegations.
