The grand inauguration of FECAFOOT's new headquarters in Yaoundé continues to draw mixed reactions. In an opinion piece published by Lebledparle.com, journalist and writer François Hiondi Nkam IV sharply criticizes Samuel Eto'o, the federation's president, arguing that the inauguration is more of a PR stunt than a genuine effort to revive Cameroonian football.
Hiondi Nkam compares the event to a spectacle intended to improve the country's image while masking the deep-seated problems within national football. He highlights FECAFOOT's growing debt, the precarious situation of local players, the decline of national competitions, and accuses Eto'o of prioritizing image over much-needed structural reforms.
The author of the piece draws a disturbing parallel between the inauguration and Pope Leon XIV's visit to Cameroon, during which the country made considerable efforts to conceal its socio-economic issues. He questions the value of such lavish events in a context marked by a persistent dictatorship, a vicious cycle of debt, and widespread unemployment.
Hiondi Nkam denounces what he sees as a desperate attempt to conceal the ills of Cameroonian football, which he describes as "disgusting" and "moribund". He points out that the construction of the new headquarters has led to further debt for FECAFOOT, in addition to the sums already spent on legal disputes and dismissals. As of February 2026, FECAFOOT owed more than 300,000 euros in unpaid bonuses and subsidies. In July 2024, the Cameroon Bar Association questioned Samuel Eto'o about an outstanding debt of 40 million CFA francs.
In conclusion, François Hiondi Nkam portrays FECAFOOT as still dependent on public funds, with local players in need, referees impoverished, and stadiums empty. He accuses Samuel Eto'o of consolidating his presidency in an atmosphere of self-glorification and opportunism, thereby masking the failures of his leadership of Cameroonian football.
