Cameroon federation chief Eto'o backs FIFA's Infantino

24 Aug 2026, 18:56 · CNA · Join

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Quarter Final - Morocco v Cameroon - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - January 9, 2026 Cameroonian Football Federation president and former player Samuel Eto'o in the stands REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: FIFA President Gianni Infantino attends the inauguration of Abelardo De La Espriella as Colombia's president, in Cali, Colombia, August 7, 2026. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez/File Photo

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Aug 24 : Cameroon's all-time top scorer Samuel Eto'o, president of the country's soccer federation, has defended FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, saying opposition to the Swiss-Italian was related to the timing of next year's elections in the global body.

Infantino, up for re-election in March 2027, has been criticised since tabling a now abandoned proposal to sell off a 20 per cent stake in a commercial body for FIFA tournament rights, with several countries withdrawing their support for his candidacy.

"I think all these things are happening because of the timing. There's an election coming up where Gianni Infantino is standing. All of this has happened because there's an election coming up. That's all there is," Eto'o told CNN in an interview broadcast on Monday.

While several regional soccer bodies, including UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF, are weighing whether to move a vote of no confidence to oust Infantino, African body CAF has backed him.

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CAF president Patrice Motsepe said earlier this month that Infantino's future should be decided at the 2027 election, and confirmed that the president still has the support of CAF.

Former striker Eto'o, who played for major European clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea, said Infantino had changed football, giving opportunities to nations that did not have them before.

"The president's job is to take football further, to make all of the nations grow," he said.

"He made a proposal. The 211 members were supposed to sit down, debate the issue and let the majority win. But I am convinced that the voices that were raised, those are not the voices of the majority."

Cameroon federation chief Eto'o backs FIFA's Infantino

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