AFCON 2025: Etoâ??o, Roger Milla held briefly at stadium gates before Cameroon quarter-final

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o and former national team great Roger Milla were briefly denied entry to Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium ahead of Cameroon’s quarter-final Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) tie against hosts Morocco on Friday night.

Eto’o arrived at the stadium without a match ticket shortly before kick-off, flanked by Milla, who did possess a valid entry pass. CAF protocol officials refused to admit Eto’o initially, citing strict enforcement of ticketing rules that bar entry without a ticket, even for federation executives.

Eyewitnesses reported a tense stand-off as security personnel insisted on adherence to accreditation and ticket verification procedures. After several minutes of back-and-forth, the situation was resolved and Eto’o was eventually allowed into the stadium ahead of kick-off.

The incident briefly underscored the broader off-field struggles that have dogged the Cameroonian camp ahead of and during the tournament. In the build-up to AFCON 2025, Eto’o’s tenure as FECAFOOT president has been marred by controversy and internal conflict.

A highly publicised power struggle with coach Marc Brys saw two rival squad lists and competing claims over team leadership, with the Belgian coach’s dismissal just weeks before the tournament sparking intense debate back home. Brys publicly criticised Eto’o, accusing him of pursuing personal interests over national team priorities.

Off the pitch, Eto’o has constantly been under scrutiny over governance issues. Earlier in the year, his eligibility to stand for a CAF Executive Committee seat was initially blocked due to disciplinary concerns, only to be reinstated following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The veteran striker-turned-administrator also faced a FIFA-imposed six-month ban from attending Cameroon matches related to breaches of disciplinary codes at a youth tournament in 2024, although legal challenges have complicated enforcement of that sanction.

These off-field squabbles have coincided with dramatic sporting decisions, including the exclusion of key players such as goalkeeper Andre Onana and captain Vincent Aboubakar from the final AFCON squad, moves that critics tied directly to the internal strife within Cameroon’s football leadership.

Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.

Read Full Story