On May 26, 2023, five months after the return of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the Executive Committee of Fecafoot met at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé. The Indomitable Lions had been eliminated in the first round, amidst the André Onana scandal, who was repudiated from the den during the competition.
“But above all, the matter of the State’s advance treasury of 2.7 billion to FECAFOOT is just beginning. The Ministry of Finance still hopes that Samuel Eto’o, awaiting the 5.5 billion participation bonuses for the Indomitable Lions in this competition, will return the public funds. The fourth item on the agenda is thus worded: ‘Update on Cameroon’s participation in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.’ The members of the Comex present, only missing BOUBAKARY Bello, the second vice president who passed away, Arthur Djampir, the third vice president, and Guibai Gatama, who is suspended, believe they can get explanations on the Onana affair and the use of the government’s 2.7 billion and the repayment modalities,” recounts journalist Boris Bertolt.
“On this point, Samuel Eto’o takes the floor and expresses satisfaction with Cameroon’s participation in the World Cup, highlighting the victory over Brazil (1-0), but omitting to recall that he had promised the final to Cameroonians. He gives his version of the Onana affair, like the hunter who tells the story of the hunt: the game is always wrong. On the 2.7 billion, almost getting angry at having to answer for this money: ‘People talk about the 2.7 billion, they say I have to repay, but I gave everyone their share. Up there, they all received their share. Even the elder Roger Milla received 60 million. So we have to stop talking to me about this matter,’ adds Boris Bertolt. The 2022 Qatar World Cup and expresses satisfaction with the report presented by the president of Fecafoot.”
“The members of the Comex look at each other, amazed. Especially those who did not make the trip to Qatar and to whom Samuel Eto’o had promised compensation of 5 million each. They are still waiting for this money. The goalscorer Roger Milla thus also signed on for the 2.7 billion to the tune of 60 million, in addition to full coverage during the competition,” explains the journalist.
“So 2023 was a fruitful year for the itinerant ambassador because to these 60 million, you have to add the contractual 50 million since 2022, totaling 110 million received from FECAFOOT in one year. One understands why without Eto’o, Cameroonian football makes no sense to Roger Milla. For the record, resolution 5 of this session of the Executive Committee will thus be formulated: ‘The Executive Committee, unanimously of the members present, salutes Cameroon’s participation in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and expresses satisfaction with the report presented by the president of Fecafoot,’” concludes Boris Bertolt.
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