Pressure on FIFA to Suspend Cameroon

Following the complaint by FECAFOOT on June 3 that it has been excluded from preparations for the two World Cup qualifiers scheduled to be played by the Indomitable Lions on June 8 and 11, supporters of FECAFOOT President, Samuel Eto’o Fils, flooded FIFA’s Facebook page today (Tuesday, June 4), to pressure the world football governing body to immediately suspend Cameroon.

FIFA’s traditional approach in such situations is to issue an ultimatum to the Cameroon Government, demanding the withdrawal within 48 hours of the technical staff it has appointed for the Indomitable Lions and allowing the staff appointed by FECAFOOT to perform their duties. Failing this, Cameroon would face a suspension for a period. Some Eto’o supporters are even calling for a four-year suspension. They hope that if FIFA issues the ultimatum or threat, the Cameroon Government will quickly comply to avoid suspension by withdrawing its appointed staff and allowing FECAFOOT’s team to take over.

However, what these supporters do not consider is that this strategy could backfire on the Eto’o camp. Given that numerous petitions have been filed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and even at FIFA against the President of FECAFOOT and his Executive Committee (Exco) since Eto’o’s team took office in December 2021, FIFA could instead decide to dissolve the Exco and establish another Normalisation Committee. This would effectively mean the end of Eto’o’s leadership at FECAFOOT.

Moreover, the escalating conflict between the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education (MINSEP) and FECAFOOT has created a situation where Cameroon appears like a ship without a captain. Camps within the country now seem more powerful than the government, and the conflict has deteriorated this far because personal egos have overshadowed national interest. Given the uncertainty and lack of clear leadership, it is difficult to predict how the government will react to a FIFA threat to suspend Cameroon.