Government Demands Transparency: Fecafoot Under Scrutiny Over One All Sports Contract

Amidst promises of grandeur, including the much-publicized acquisition of team buses, questions abound regarding the fulfillment of contractual obligations.

On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, a joint commission comprising representatives from the presidency and the prime minister's office, convened to address lingering concerns. Notable figures such as Samuel Eto'o, President of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), and Rigobert Song, the national team's manager, were summoned for questioning at the Etoile building.

During the hearings, government officials pressed Fecafoot to produce a copy of the contract with One All Sports, dating back to November 2022. It was then that Samuel Eto'o disclosed, during a televised interview on Canal 2 International, the purported agreement wherein the new equipment provider pledged an annual contribution of one billion FCFA to Fecafoot, totaling three billion FCFA over the three-year contract period.

This financial commitment represented a significant increase from the previous arrangement with French sportswear brand Le Coq Sportif, which, according to revelations made during legal proceedings in France, had been providing an annual sum of 750,000 euros to Fecafoot.

Additionally, Eto'o had announced that the partnership with One All Sports would encompass the provision of equipment valued at one million euros annually for the national teams, along with the delivery of a luxury VIP bus for the Lions Indomptables, the country's flagship team, starting from 2023. However, as of 2024, there is no sight of the promised bus, raising further doubts about the fulfillment of contractual obligations.

As the hearings at the prime minister's office continue, the government has pledged to submit a comprehensive report, including findings from its investigation into the selection process of the national team coach, to the head of state by Friday, March 1, 2024.

The demand for transparency underscores the government's commitment to upholding accountability and ensuring that public resources are managed responsibly. As Cameroonians await further developments, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on Fecafoot, as it navigates the complexities of its contractual obligations amidst mounting public scrutiny.