Controversies have plagued Samuel Eto’o throughout his tenure as the President of the Cameroon Football Association. He battled <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/endless-drama-afcon-winner-accused-of-match-fixing-again-20240201-WST-486686.html">claims of match-fixing</a> and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/onana-may-skip-afcon-to-focus-on-man-united-says-report-20231005-WST-460509.html">expulsions of important players like Andre Onana</a>. The most recent development in this stormy tale is a well-publicized altercation with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/cameroon-national-team-tv-schedule/">Cameroon</a> coach Marc Brys.



The Cameroon national team named 61-year-old Belgian coach Marc Brys as their leader just six months after supposedly retiring. Before this position, Brys managed OH Leuven in Belgium for three seasons.



The Cameroonian Minister of Sport, Narcisse Mouelle Kombito, appointed Brys without first contacting the federation. Of course, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-legend-samuel-etoo-accused-in-match-fixing-scandal-20230720-WST-444303.html">Eto’o</a> was not happy about it. Although he had some doubts, he still invited Brys to come to the CFA headquarters and start his job.



Refusing to let Brys’ employees inside the CFA headquarters caused tensions to flare up. The affair took a turn for the worse when a government official was kicked out of a meeting between Eto’o and Brys.



During a heated argument on May 28, the Indomitable Lions’ president demanded that Cyrille Tollo, the technical adviser to the sports minister, be expelled for invading a private conversation. “Call security and throw him out! This is the last time, understood?” Eto’o reportedly exclaimed.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240530_WST_509539_Marc-Brys-1200x670_69c80f5f.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-509597" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Marc-Brys-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Marc-Brys-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Marc-Brys-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Marc-Brys.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Then, <a href="https://cadenaser.com/nacional/2024/05/28/samuel-etoo-a-punto-de-llegar-a-las-manos-con-el-nuevo-seleccionador-de-camerun-sientate-ahora-y-para-este-desorden-cadena-ser/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in an on-camera altercation</a>, the 42-year-old former player let his displeasure show. He became angry and demanded more respect from the coach while also accusing him of making a lot of blunders. To this, the Belgian retorted that he was not in a managerial capacity and vented his frustrations.



<h2>Reversal of stance from Samuel Eto’o toward Marc Brys</h2>



Rapid consequences ensued as a result of this altercation. Eto’o used his position of power to summon an emergency meeting, which resulted in Brys’ firing. Nevertheless, the complex legal nature of Brys’ hiring denied the potential of Eto’o sacking the coach. In response to public pressure and uncertainty in the law, Eto’o reversed his earlier rejection.



Eto’o publicly apologized to him during a news conference. Eto’o reinstated Brys’ status as national team manager for the next matches against Angola and Cape Verde. This move brought some order to the squad to prepare it for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.



Some have seen Eto’o’s leadership as problematic from the beginning. It seems as if he is having trouble keeping control of the situation, what with the 2022 expulsion of Andre Onana and the suspicions of match-fixing.



This most recent episode with Brys furthers the story of Eto’o’s erratic leadership style. Another example of his explosive personality is his fight with a media member whom he said was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/samuel-etoo-seen-in-violent-altercation-with-photographer-20221206-WST-411373.html">harassing him relentlessly</a>.



Despite all this controversy regarding Marc Brys, Samuel Eto’o is still a key man for Cameroonian soccer. He seems to have maintained his power inside the CFA and FIFA. This indicates a complicated link between his time as a lauded player and his current position as a troubled president.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Scandal: Eto'o sacks Cameroon coach before changing his mind

As President of the Cameroon FA, Samuel Eto'o has overseen controversies, and the latest one focuses on head coach Marc Brys.

Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Association, has been the subject of several legal issues during his tenure, the most recent of which are fresh accusations of match-fixing and threatening behavior.



In the last two years, Eto’o has faced several legal challenges, including a lawsuit in Italy brought by his daughter, who is 21 years old. Then the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/samuel-etoo-seen-in-violent-altercation-with-photographer-20221206-WST-411373.html">punched an Algerian YouTuber on camera</a>. It prompted the former striker to issue an apology.



Then on top of this, he received a 22-month suspended sentence, after agreeing to pay a $1.5 million fine for tax evasion in Spain. While a FIFA investigation is continuing, <a href="https://theathletic.com/5224900/2024/01/31/samuel-etoo-referee-cameroon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Athletic</a> has reported new evidence linking him to a match-fixing incident in Cameroon.



Also, FIFA has not yet punished Eto’o for his ties to 1XBet as an ambassador. No national association head may have any financial or other relationship with a betting establishment. Doing so carries a maximum three-year penalty.



<h2>Henry Njalla Quan Junior accuses Samuel Eto’o of match-fixing</h2>



Now Henry Njalla Quan Junior, a former vice president of the Cameroon Football Federation, has accused Eto’o of rigging matches and influencing officials, even by calling them during halftime. In one play-off match, the official sent off two coaches and three players while also awarding two penalties to one team.



In what he calls “the most scandalous… in the history of mankind,” he claims that the ex-Barcelona star arranged a match between his academy and Kumba City FC. Allegedly, the Cameroonian leader also helped a team owned by Valentine Nkwain—a “close associate”—win promotion. Despite losing their first four games, Victoria United won eleven of their last seventeen, allowing them to advance.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240201_WST_486686_Etoo-AFCON-1200x670_b6db0b2b.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-486728" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Etoo-AFCON-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Etoo-AFCON-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Etoo-AFCON-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Etoo-AFCON.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



According to The Athletic, they have evidence in the form of audio recordings and communications that support their assertions. The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/cameroon-national-team-tv-schedule/">Cameroonian FA</a> has also leveled accusations of match manipulation against Njalla.



<h2>What did Eto’o say?</h2>



The report adds that the relationship between the two later soured, and the retired 42-year-old ace ordered the delivery of a threatening note. The text was as follows:



“I am a mafia of this revolution, and in this specific mafia, we do not betray our leaders. I have protected the interest of our mission to date. However, if you f**k with me be ready to carry the load of the circumstances.”



The CAF, or Confederation of African Football, is also looking into the matter. An inquiry into Eto’o’s alleged inappropriate behavior is already underway, according to the Federation. As a result, there have been demands for FIFA to remove the 42-year-old from his position as President.



Adding to the slew of scandals involving Samuel Eto’o is the rumored recent altercation with Manchester United shot-stopper <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/onana-requests-postponed-afcon-release-for-touching-reason-20231229-WST-480252.html">Andre Onana</a>. They benched the goalie for their pivotal group-stage match against Gambia.



The <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12304255/Andre-Onanas-exile-Cameroon-blamed-Samuel-Etoo-former-CFF-executive.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daily Mail</a> stated that the two parties have not communicated since their row at the 2022 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a>. The goalie, Onana, was sent home after an argument with Cameroon manager Rigobert Song at the World Cup. But this year’s AFCON was the last straw, and the Manchester United star was benched due to the rift.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Endless drama: AFCON winner accused of match-fixing again

Samuel Eto'o is back under the microscope for the wrong reasons as he tends to accusations of match-fixing in Cameroon.

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Scandal: Eto'o sacks Cameroon coach before changing his mind

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Endless drama: AFCON winner accused of match-fixing again