Sports

CAF fines Eto’o $200k for ethical breaches

Published

5 months ago

July 5, 2024

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined Cameroon’s football legend and current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), Samuel Eto’o, the sum of $200,000 for an ethics breach, but freed him on charges related to allegations of match-fixing as the football governing body could not find sufficient evidence to pursue the allegations.

CAF had opened an investigation into Eto’o’s conduct in August last year after allegedly receiving written statements from several Cameroonian football stakeholders.

Eto’o was, last month, invited by a disciplinary panel set up by CAF and after its investigations, the panel said the four-time African Footballer of the Year had “seriously violated the principles of ethics, integrity and sportsmanship of CAF by signing a contract to be an ambassador for betting company 1XBET.”

The panel noted that Eto’o committed ethical breaches by signing the ambassadorial contract since 1XBET is the sponsor of the top two divisions of men’s professional football in Cameroon and both the men’s and women’s international sides, while the regulations of world football governing body, FIFA, state clearly that “people bound by its code are not allowed any involvement in betting related to football.”

A group representing amateur football clubs in Cameroon had last year, called on Eto’o to resign as Fecafoot President, expressing their concerns over his relationship with 1XBET and citing “grave irregularities” at Fecafoot.

The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker was being investigated alongside Valentine Nkwain, president of newly promoted club side Victoria United, following a leaked phone conversation said to be of the pair discussing Victoria’s return to the top flight before promotion had been guaranteed.

However, both Eto’o and Nkwain have previously denied involvement in any conspiracy to manipulate results.

Earlier in the week, a group of football administrators, including former members of Fecafoot and the president of the country’s Professional Football League, wrote an open letter to CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, urging them to speed up their investigations and pointing out that possible sanctions included a lifetime ban.

Part of the letter had said:

“Many stakeholders who have been in the game for several decades are leaving because of the abuses that have taken place over the past two years.”

Related Topics:CAF Cameroon Featured Fine Match Fixing Samuel Eto'o

Click to comment

Sports

TP Mazembe pip AS FAR to win African Women’s Champions League

Published

23 minutes ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the third team to win the 2024 African Women’s Champions League after narrowly defeating AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final played on Sunday at the El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium.

TP Mazembe claimed the title for the first time courtesy of a 10th minute penalty which was converted by Marlene Kasaj after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah handled the ball in the box.

The Congolese side should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out before the more fancied home team gradually grew into the match and looked to cancel the deficit and add to their continental triumph in 2022.

But AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Mazembe’s goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani who had netted six goals in their run to the final, wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

With the triumph, TP Mazembe carted home the giant trophy and a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the AS FAR went home with $400,000 (£319,000).

Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).