FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto'o delivered a passionate speech at the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, held on Friday, February 27th, at the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé. His address focused on youth and rewarding merit, reaffirming the federation's commitment to supporting the dreams of young Cameroonian footballers.
In front of a distinguished audience, including the First Lady of Cameroon, Eto'o emphasized the promise made to the new generation: to transform their aspirations into tangible realities. He notably announced that young players would receive land and cars, symbolizing the recognition of their sporting excellence. "We promised this beautiful youth to make their dreams a reality... young people of 18, 19 years old will leave owning land. Owners of a car," he declared.
Eto'o stressed the importance of encouraging young talents, recognizing the doubts and questions they may face. He recalled FECAFOOT's role in supporting these young people, emphasizing that "our job is also to help, to support, to tell them that we are there, that we will continue to reward excellence." He also mentioned the challenges of institutional management, while praising the work done during the last AFCON and congratulating coach David Pagou.
The former captain of the Indomitable Lions concluded by highlighting the essential values for a high-performing team: discipline, love of country, and team spirit. "A dynamic team, a disciplined team, a team that has a lot of love for its country. That's what you managed to do in a short time," he affirmed. This speech is in line with FECAFOOT's efforts to revitalize Cameroonian football, notably through the launch of the FIFA-supported U-17 Elite Youth Championship. The federation is also committed to improving the training of young footballers in the country's primary and secondary schools.
By promoting excellence and offering concrete opportunities, Samuel Eto'o and FECAFOOT hope to inspire a new generation of Cameroonian footballers to achieve their dreams and proudly represent their country.
