Football icon, Samuel Eto’o elected president of Cameroon FA

Former Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Chelsea striker, Samuel Eto’o has been elected  president of Cameroon FA 

The former Cameroon international received 43 votes from members of FECAFOOT’s general assembly during the election, which took place on Saturday, December 11. He defeated rival Seidou Mbombo Njoya – who was the interim president of the country’s football federation (Fecafoot), by 43 votes to 31.

The 40-year-old is one of the country’s greatest ever players after scoring 56 goals in 118 appearances during his international career. Eto’o, also won the African Footballer of the Year on four occasions.

Reacting to the news on Instagram, Eto’o posted: ‘I’ll be remembering today as one of the proudest moments of my life. 

‘I’m deeply grateful to be elected as the new president of @fecafootofficiel. 

‘Every single vote represents the energy and ambition of our football family to take our beloved sport to a level we’ve never seen before. Let’s get to work.’

Eto’o has promised a wide range of reforms to help the sport thrive in the country and has promised to construct at least 10 stadiums during his mandate.

As reported by the BBC, Eto’o said: ‘We have to bring footballers to the center of our policies.

‘It is our role to ensure that those who play this discipline make a decent living out of it.’ 

Seven candidates should have originally contested the elections, but five of them pulled out on the morning of the election. 

His appointment comes just a month before the country hosts the African Cup of Nations which is set to run from January 9 to February 6.