AFCON 2025: Eto’o and Roger Milla briefly detained at stadium ahead of Cameroon quarter-final
Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o and former national team legend Roger Milla were briefly denied entry to Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium ahead of Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) quarter-final against hosts Morocco on Friday night.
Eto’o arrived shortly before kick-off without a match ticket, while Milla held a valid entry pass. CAF protocol officials initially refused Eto’o entry, citing strict ticketing regulations that apply even to federation executives. Eyewitnesses described a tense stand-off as security insisted on proper accreditation and ticket verification. After several minutes, the situation was resolved and Eto’o was eventually allowed into the stadium.
The incident highlighted ongoing off-field turmoil within Cameroonian football. Eto’o’s tenure as FECAFOOT president has been marked by controversy, including a highly publicised conflict with coach Marc Brys, which resulted in competing squad lists and leadership disputes. Brys, dismissed just weeks before the tournament, publicly accused Eto’o of prioritising personal interests over the national team.
Eto’o has also faced scrutiny over governance issues. Earlier this year, his eligibility for a CAF Executive Committee seat was temporarily blocked due to disciplinary concerns but reinstated after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He also received a FIFA-imposed six-month ban from attending Cameroon matches over disciplinary breaches at a youth tournament in 2024, though enforcement has been delayed by legal challenges.
The internal strife has spilled onto the pitch, affecting team selection. Key players, including goalkeeper Andre Onana and captain Vincent Aboubakar, were omitted from Cameroon’s final AFCON squad, moves critics say were influenced by the federation’s leadership disputes.
The episode at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium serves as a reminder of the challenges Cameroonian football continues to face, even as the team competes on Africa’s biggest stage.
