The Executive Committee Members of the Cameroonian Football Association have turned down Samuel Eto’o’s resignation as the President of the association. Eto’o had submitted his resignation following Cameroon’s elimination from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the hands of Nigeria in the last 16 stage.

Eto’o, the former Cameroon international, assumed the presidency of Fecafoot in December 2021. His tenure, however, has faced challenges, marked by controversy over the past two and a half years.

The decision to step down came after a disappointing AFCON tournament where the Indomitable Lions, under Rigobert Song, barely advanced past the group stages, securing a thrilling win over Gambia but eventually losing 2-0 to Nigeria in the round of 16.

Despite Eto’o’s emotional involvement during the tournament, especially when Cameroon progressed to the knockout stages, the strain on him became apparent after their elimination.

In a statement released on Monday, Fecafoot announced that the Executive Committee had unanimously rejected Eto’o’s resignation, choosing to maintain their current mandates.

“The Executive Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation held a session this Monday, February 5 at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel,” the statement read.

“The agenda focused on evaluating the performance of the senior men’s national team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

“At the beginning of the meeting, the President of the Cameroon Football Federation, Mr. Eto’o Fils Samuel, tendered his resignation to the members of the federal executive organ, inviting them to do likewise in good faith.

“At the end of discussions and subsequent deliberations, the members of the Executive Committee decided to maintain their current mandates and thus unanimously rejected the President’s resignation.

“Thereby renewing their confidence in him to continue with the same spirit of reconstruction and development of Cameroon football at all levels as envisaged in his plan adopted by the elective General Assembly of December 11, 2021.”

During Eto’o’s administration, Cameroon faced disappointment by failing to progress past the group stage in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, followed by their exit from AFCON 2023 in the round of 16.