FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto'o has announced that the federation will now cover the salaries of all national team coaches, a responsibility traditionally held by the Cameroonian government. This decision marks a potentially major shift in the management of Cameroonian football and could signal the start of tensions with the Ministry of Sports (MINSEP).
For the first time, the salaries of all eleven national team coaches and their staff will be paid directly by FECAFOOT. David Pagou, appointed head coach of the Indomitable Lions shortly before the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, is the first to benefit from this new system. Eto'o has been preparing for this transition since his arrival at the head of FECAFOOT in December 2021, by strengthening the federation's finances through sponsorship deals with MTN Cameroon, Orange Cameroon, Fourteen, Guinness Cameroon, BetPawa, 1XBet, Sky Motors Group, and the Société Anonyme des Boissons du Cameroun. Additionally, FECAFOOT received 736 million FCFA thanks to the Lions' performance in the AFCON quarter-finals.
This initiative comes amid strained relations between FECAFOOT and MINSEP, led by Narcisse Mouelle Kombi. The minister has not publicly commented on this decision, but a source close to MINSEP indicates that they are closely monitoring FECAFOOT's ability to handle these financial responsibilities. The state continues to finance the national teams' travel and will honor previous contracts, including that of former coach Marc Brys, until its expiration in September 2026.
The question of FECAFOOT's long-term financial capacity remains. Rumors of cash flow problems are circulating, although an internal source at the federation downplays them. FECAFOOT will need to increase commercial contracts and optimize revenue from international competitions to ensure financial stability.
Beyond local issues, this decision could inspire other African federations to reduce their financial dependence on states, in line with FIFA and CAF recommendations. If FECAFOOT succeeds, it could become a model for continental football.
