FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto'o has commented on the technical incident that disrupted the broadcast of Pope Leo XIV's speech on CRTV. His reaction, shared on social media, comes amid strong criticism regarding the handling of this incident.
The incident occurred during the Pope's speech at the Unity Palace, in the presence of President Paul Biya. The CRTV signal was interrupted in the middle of the Pontiff's address.
In his Facebook story, Samuel Eto'o shared CRTV's statement, adding a laconic comment: "It's okay when it's the policeman," without further details. This reaction refers to the controversy surrounding CRTV's deployment to welcome Marc Brys, the former coach of the Indomitable Lions, to Nsimalen. Eto'o thus questions why the same arrangement was not put in place for the Pope's visit.
The signal interruption during the speech triggered a wave of criticism towards the national channel. Voices were raised to denounce these shortcomings, and disagreements arose between the various actors involved in the broadcast. Samuel Eto'o's reaction is part of this context of protest, without, however, shedding light on the substance of the matter.
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Cameroon, which began on April 15, 2026, is a major event for the country. The Pontiff has notably called for peace in the English-speaking regions, which have been plagued by a separatist conflict since 2017. He traveled to Bamenda, the epicenter of the crisis, for a meeting focused on peace. A mass was also celebrated in Douala.
This broadcast incident has therefore created a shockwave, reviving tensions and raising questions about the priorities of the national channel. The Pope's visit continues with a message of unity and peace.
