Former Cameroon football star Samuel Eto’o has been handed a four-match ban and fined $20,000 after being found guilty of misconduct by a disciplinary panel of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
In a statement, CAF said Eto’o, who is currently president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), breached the organisation’s principles of sportsmanship during the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match between Cameroon and hosts Morocco.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker was reportedly seen making angry gestures in reaction to decisions by match officials as Cameroon suffered a 2–0 defeat. CAF President Patrice Motsepe, who was present at the stadium in Rabat, is believed to have witnessed the incident.
Earlier this week, CAF announced it had opened investigations into what it described as “violent confrontations and unacceptable behaviour” involving players and officials during the quarter-final matches.
FECAFOOT has rejected the disciplinary ruling, questioning the fairness of the process and claiming it failed to meet the basic standards of a fair hearing. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the federation expressed its support for Eto’o and indicated that an appeal against the sanction was likely.
Since his election as FECAFOOT president in December 2021, Eto’o’s leadership has been marked by controversy, including allegations of misconduct and administrative irregularities. While critics say these issues have tarnished his legacy, Eto’o has consistently denied wrongdoing and pointed to reforms and achievements under his tenure.
