Facing accusations of embezzlement, Samuel Eto'o, president of FECAFOOT, has clarified the management of funds allocated to the Indomitable Lions, Cameroon's national football team, during away matches.
In an interview with Digital B Agency, Eto'o explained that the national team's budget does not pass through FECAFOOT, and he himself is not a beneficiary. "The president of the Federation is not in this budget, but they want to tell us that you are embezzling the money you do not see," he stated. He detailed the process of validating and distributing the budget, involving several ministries and state services.
Eto'o emphasized that the Indomitable Lions' budget is not limited to expenses related to the players. It also includes the Minister of Sports' sovereignty fees, expenses of the Cameroonian ambassador in the host country, security services, as well as contributions from the Presidency, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Ministry of Finance. He insisted on the traceability of payments, made only by bank transfer.
"When I arrived at the head of the Cameroonian Football Federation, I was only the authorizing officer for expenses," Eto'o explained, noting that budgets are prepared by the Federation's teams and sent to the Ministry of Sports. He expressed his openness to criticism, while refusing to waste time with those he accuses of manipulation and self-serving lies.
These statements come in a context where the financial management of Cameroonian football is under scrutiny, particularly regarding budgets allocated to international competitions and contracts with equipment suppliers. Recently, Eto'o justified the choice of a "economical" national coach, David Pagou, highlighting his desire to prioritize local skills at a lower cost.
