Samuel Eto’o not ready to give up against sports minister

Eto’o has gone further to unveil FECAFOOT’s coaching staff for the Indomitable Lions, in opposition to the sports minister, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi’s list made public a month ago with Marc Brys as the head coach.

The FECAFOOT president maintained the Belgian, but made changes which included replacing the first assistant coach Omam Biyik, putting David Pagou as the second assistant and bringing Carlos Kameni for Alioum Boukar among other changes.

Following the state’s appointment of Marc Brys on April 2, the FECAFOOT executive committee held a meeting four days later, and asked the president to constitute the federations’ list within 72 hours. The FA was displeased with the State’s appointment saying it was unilateral.

FECAFOOT’s designation of the technical staff comes after the move was awaited a month ago, nonetheless, it further explains Eto’o’s resolve to counter the state’s interference in the affairs of the federation he runs. He has said he wants to abide by the FIFA, CAF and FECAFOOT statutes and the 2014 decree on the running of national teams in Cameroon, which stated that FECAFOOT is responsible for the recruitment of the national team staff.

The minister has, however, used the 2015 MINSEP-FECAFOOT convention which gave the state the prerogative to independently decide on who coaches the national team.

FIFA reacted to the ongoing crisis on May 8, after receiving a correspondence from FECAFOOT, and requested a reamendment of the 2015 convention. It called on the government and FECAFOOT to come to an agreement urging the authorities to allow the federation handle the football affairs of the country.

It has also been observed that Marc Brys’ name which was not on the FIFA website, has been added after Eto’o’s designation.