The organization of the 2025 Cameroonian Ballon d'Or continues to raise questions. Following the coronation of Serge Daura, striker for Gazelle FA de Garoua, a writer, Jean Ediegnie, questioned Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), about the way the ceremony was orchestrated.
In a column, Ediegnie raises crucial questions about the personalization of the event, which, according to him, should above all celebrate the players. He questions in particular the prominent place given to the president of FECAFOOT during the ceremony, questioning the relevance of seeing him present the major trophy himself, a gesture often entrusted to a neutral legend or an emblematic figure of football.
"Why personalize so much a ceremony that should belong to the players?" the writer asks, pointing to the omnipresent presence of Samuel Eto'o on stage, during the awards ceremonies and even at the heart of the artistic sequences. He also criticizes the fact that the ceremony ended with an ostentatious presentation of the vehicle offered to the winner, relegating the players to the background.
Ediegnie also questions respect for republican protocol, alluding to gestures of proximity towards the First Lady that could have been perceived as inappropriate. He also raises the question of the blackout that occurred during the ceremony, highlighting the lack of anticipation in the face of a recurring problem in Cameroon, and the positioning of the players, relegated to the background while the front rows were occupied by administrative personalities and influencers.
Finally, the writer questions the criteria for awarding certain special prizes, in particular the one awarded to David Pagou, questioning the clarity and transparency of the selection process. He deplores the absence of international recruiters and representatives of CAF or FIFA, whose presence could have strengthened the credibility of the event and offered real career opportunities to players.
These questions come in a context where FECAFOOT and its president, Samuel Eto'o, are called upon to reform Cameroonian football and strengthen the credibility of the local Ballon d'Or. The objective, according to several observers, is to transform this reward into a real lever for development for the players of the national championship.
Meanwhile, the Cameroonian journalism world is in mourning following the death of journalist Arnaud Nguefack, who died on March 1, 2026, following a stroke. A talented reporter and emblematic figure of Canal 2 International, he had notably covered the trial of the assassination of journalist Martinez Zogo.
