Samuel Eto'o, the future leader of African soccer ?

Elections to choose the new President and executive of the African Football Confederation (CAF) are scheduled for March 2025. As this crucial deadline for African football approaches, several influential figures in the field are mobilizing to vie for the coveted presidential position. Among the potential candidates is Samuel Eto’o, the current President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, who has launched an extensive diplomatic campaign across the continent to rally support for his candidacy.

The former African Ballon d’Or winner has already visited 16 countries to consolidate his network of backing. Nations expressing favorable interest in his candidacy include Benin, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with which Samuel Eto’o has close ties, as well as Mali, which is also among his declared allies.

Samuel Eto’o’s involvement on the continental scene is not new. During the presidency of former CAF leader Ahmad Ahmad, the Confederation of South Pacific Islands had already expressed its support by promising to host an edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, further enhancing the international stature of the former Indomitable Lion.

With this growing support dynamic, Samuel Eto’o is positioning himself as a key player in the race for the CAF presidency, leveraging his experience and network as significant assets to influence the future of African football.

It remains to be seen whether these strategic alliances will materialize in the 2025 election, a decisive event for the future of the sport on the continent.