Prior to the Cameroon quarterfinal, Eto’o and Roger Milla were temporarily detained at the stadium gates.
Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o and legendary former player Roger Milla were temporarily barred from entering the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium prior to Cameroon’s quarter-final clash with host nation Morocco at AFCON 2025 on Friday.
Eto’o arrived at the venue just before kick-off without a match ticket, accompanied by Milla—who did have a valid entry pass. Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials initially prevented Eto’o from entering, enforcing strict ticketing protocols that require all attendees, including federation officials, to present proper credentials.
Witnesses described a brief but tense confrontation as stadium security held firm on verifying accreditation. After several minutes of discussion, Eto’o was ultimately permitted to enter before the match began.
The episode highlighted the persistent off-pitch turmoil surrounding the Cameroonian delegation throughout the tournament. Even before AFCON 2025 began, Eto’o’s leadership of FECAFOOT has been clouded by controversy and internal disputes.
A very public feud with former coach Marc Brys led to the circulation of two separate squad lists and competing assertions of authority over the national team. Brys, who was dismissed shortly before the tournament, openly accused Eto’o of prioritizing personal agendas over the interests of the team.
Away from the field, Eto’o’s administration has faced ongoing scrutiny over governance. Earlier this year, his eligibility to run for a seat on the CAF Executive Committee was initially revoked due to disciplinary issues, though it was later restored following a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The former star striker also received a six-month ban from FIFA related to disciplinary breaches during a youth tournament in 2024—which barred him from attending Cameroon matches, though legal appeals have delayed its enforcement.
These administrative conflicts have unfolded alongside contentious team selections, including the omission of key figures such as goalkeeper André Onana and captain Vincent Aboubakar from the final AFCON squad decisions many critics have linked directly to the ongoing instability within Cameroonian football leadership.
