Samuel Eto’o reportedly confronted CAF President Patrice Motsepe during a tense executive meeting over growing concerns about refereeing decisions and governance issues.
A recent Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was reportedly the scene of a tense confrontation between Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot) President Samuel Eto’o and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
The meeting, held on Friday, is said to have become heated, with controversial refereeing decisions during the recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Morocco cited as a major point of contention.
Discussions were further fueled by revelations from Olivier Safari Kabene, head of the referees’ commission.
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Samuel Eto’o Calls Out CAF President Patrice Motsepe
During the proceedings, Samuel Eto’o, the legendary Cameroonian striker, allegedly took the opportunity to directly challenge Motsepe.
Known for his outspoken personality, Samuel Eto’o expressed his frustration over being repeatedly unable to secure a direct conversation with the CAF leader.
According to reports, Samuel Eto’o voiced his discontent in no uncertain terms. “Listen, big brother, you asked me to keep quiet, to behave. I stayed silent, but now I’ve had enough,” Samuel Eto’o said as per Foot Africa.
“I’m Samuel Eto’o Fils, and when I call you, it’s president to president. But every time I reach out, you send someone else, when it should be a president-to-president relationship. Now, that’s over.”
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Following Eto’o’s pointed remarks, it is understood that other federation presidents also began to voice their own disagreements, signalling a growing wave of dissent within the committee.
Samuel Eto’o and Algerian Football Federation (FAF) Complain About Refereeing
FAF President Walid Sadi was particularly vocal, pointing to what he termed “errors and biased disciplinary sanctions.”
According to a report from La Gazette du Fennec, Sadi also condemned the unconventional method of appointing match officials, which allegedly included validating referees through WhatsApp.
“The commission should be dissolved and a new body established,” Sadi declared, demanding an immediate and comprehensive reform of the refereeing structure.
Samuel Eto’o joined the chorus of disapproval. Eto’o, who was handed a four-match suspension after an outburst during Cameroon’s 2-0 quarter-final loss to Morocco, labelled the disciplinary action against him as unfair.
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“It is a form of injustice,” Eto’o asserted, stressing the urgent need for greater transparency and fairness in officiating across the continent.
The atmosphere grew increasingly hostile as other prominent officials, including Senegal’s Augustin Senghor, Ivory Coast’s Idriss Diallo, and Egypt’s Hani Abou Reda, reportedly interrupted Kabene and called for his resignation or dismissal.
According to sports outlet Winwin, Kabene was also criticised for appointing the same referee for multiple key matches, from the tournament opener to the final. He was reportedly heckled into silence as he struggled to respond to the widespread discontent.
The resolution of this dispute could have profound consequences for the future of the referees’ committee and the overall governance of upcoming AFCON tournaments.
