Samuel Eto’o has been refused a meeting with Cameroon’s sports minister, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, after the country’s Indomitable Lionesses won the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, raising fresh questions about tensions between the two men.
Cameroon beat Malawi 3-0 in Sunday’s final in Rabat, but the aftermath of the victory has been overshadowed by a disagreement over who should formally receive and present the trophy.
Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot), wrote to Mouelle Kombi on 18 August to request an audience at which he could present the trophy to the minister responsible for sport.
The minister rejected that request the following day.
Mouelle Kombi said that, in this case, the authority and solemn privilege of receiving the Indomitable Lionesses and being presented with the trophy belonged to Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya.
“He will be responsible, in accordance with established practice, for conveying congratulations to them on behalf of the entire nation and, if appropriate, honouring them in whatever manner he deems appropriate,” he added.
Mouelle Kombi also recalled that he had already travelled to Rabat as part of the prime minister’s delegation and had brought the trophy back to Cameroon on instructions from the highest authorities.
Eto’o, meanwhile, maintained a notably low profile. Although he returned to Cameroon with the players, he was not seen at the airport or during the team’s parade in Yaounde. The trophy was later presented to him at Fecafoot’s headquarters.
The exchange has fuelled speculation that relations between Eto’o and Mouelle Kombi could once again deteriorate, while the episode has divided opinion in Cameroon.
Critics of Eto’o accuse the former striker of seeking to draw attention to himself and of attempting to bypass President Biya, who returned to Cameroon on Thursday after spending 74 days abroad.
The latest dispute recalls a major power struggle involving the national team two years ago.
Eto’o was angered by the fact that he had not been involved in the appointment of Marc Brys and responded by naming his own coaching staff. The dispute reached its peak on 28 May 2024, when the four-time African Ballon d’Or winner and Brys became embroiled in a verbal confrontation.
The opposing sides eventually reached an agreement, with the two staffs officially merged on 1 October 2024. However, Eto’o and Brys continued to exchange criticism until the Belgian coach was dismissed on 1 December 2025.
Brys’ dismissal came the day after Eto’o was re-elected as Fecafoot president and one day before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He was replaced by David Pagou.
The latest disagreement over the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations trophy has therefore revived memories of the previous conflict, despite the earlier attempt to settle the dispute surrounding Cameroon’s men’s national side.
