Cameroon Legend Slapped with Five-Year Suspension in Growing Football Feud

Cameroon Legend Slapped with Five-Year Suspension in Growing Football Feud

Festus Chuma 15:28 - 18.06.2025

FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o suspends Cameroon legend for five years amid power struggle and explosive dressing room confrontation.

Former Cameroon international and Indomitable Lions defender Geremi Njitap has been handed a five-year suspension by the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), following a heated confrontation during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

The punishment, issued by FECAFOOT president and football icon Samuel Eto’o, has sparked widespread outrage and cast a shadow over the already turbulent state of Cameroonian football.

The incident, which took place inside the national team’s dressing room during Cameroon’s match against Gambia, reportedly involved Njitap and Eto’o’s head of protocol, Etienne Tamo.

What was initially dismissed as a minor dressing room spat has now escalated into a full-blown crisis, laying bare the internal tensions brewing within FECAFOOT.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo may be preparing for another major tournament, but back in Cameroon, the spotlight has shifted dramatically from the pitch to the boardroom.

According to insider accounts, Njitap—who was serving on FECAFOOT’s executive committee at the time—openly criticised Eto’o's leadership style, accusing him of consolidating power and marginalising dissenting voices.

“He’s running the federation like a private business,” a FECAFOOT source disclosed to Pulse Sports under anonymity.

“Geremi spoke up, and now he’s paying the price.”

Njitap, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner and former Champions League champion with Real Madrid, has yet to make a public statement.

However, those close to him suggest the confrontation turned physical after his remarks were met with hostility from Tamo, triggering a heated altercation.

A Ban or a Power Play?

Eto’o’s decision to impose the lengthy ban has raised eyebrows across the football community, especially as it comes just months before FECAFOOT’s presidential elections.

Critics argue the timing is far from coincidental, speculating that Njitap’s suspension is a calculated move to eliminate a political rival.

“There are strong rumours Geremi was preparing a run for the presidency,” noted a former FECAFOOT official.

“This ban doesn’t just silence a critic—it neutralises a serious threat.”

Observers say the fallout is a continuation of the power struggles that have plagued the federation since Eto’o’s controversial ascent to the presidency.

His tenure has been marred by allegations of authoritarianism, selective appointments, and a tightening inner circle that leaves little room for alternative voices.

Football or Feud?

As tensions rise, many worry that Cameroon’s football is being hijacked by personal vendettas rather than a shared vision for growth.

Players, fans, and officials alike are voicing concern that the national game—once a symbol of unity—is now a battleground for egos.

“This is no longer about football,” said a retired Cameroonian international.

“It’s about who controls the narrative, the power, the federation. And that’s dangerous.”

The Cameroon Football Federation has not released a detailed account of the incident nor the exact grounds for Njitap’s suspension, further fuelling speculation and mistrust.

Tags: