CAF Election: CAS Orders CAF To Reinstate Eto'o

CAF Election: CAS Orders CAF To Reinstate Eto'o

Sampson Adedeji

With just days to go before the CAF elections, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) must reinstate FECAFOOT president Samuel Eto’o Fils, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The dispute began in January 2025 when the Review Sub-Committee of the CAF Governance Committee, followed by the Executive Committee, ruled to exclude Eto’o from the list of candidates for the upcoming Executive Committee elections.

This decision was based on a prior conviction for "serious violations of ethical principles."

Although the CAF Appeals Jury later lifted the sanction, it initially barred him from running for a seat in African football's governing body.

Viewing the decision as unjust, Eto’o, backed by FECAFOOT, took the case to CAS on February 5.

CAS not only ruled in Eto’o’s favour but also ordered CAF to cover all arbitration costs and pay 8,000 Swiss francs (approximately 8,385.92 euros) to the former player and FECAFOOT as partial reimbursement for legal fees.

This ruling significantly alters the landscape just days before the elections, as Eto’o now has a clear path to re-enter the race for the CAF Executive Committee.

The key question remains: how will CAF respond to this setback, and what impact will it have on the March 12 elections.