Panic grips FECAFOOT as Biya receives Eto’o • Emergency crisis meeting summoned to force Iya to resign?

·        Anglophone tipped as new FECAFOOT president

By Chinje Hopeson in Yaounde

Panic has gripped the authorities of the Cameroon Football Association (FECAFOOT), following disturbing news that President Biya has received former Indomitable Lions’ captain, Samuel Eto’o Fils.

The Guardian Post has gathered on good authority that President Biya first received Eto’o in private before asking PM Philemon Yang to receive him (Eto’o), Rigobert Song, Jean Paul Akono and Minister Adoum Garoua.

During the Unity Palace audience, Eto’o, The Guardian Post gathered, briefed the president on the amateurish manner in which the Iya Mohammed-led FECAFOOT executive is managing football affairs in the country. Iya, Eto’o reportedly told Biya, has a hidden agenda to destroy Cameroon football.

In fact, all the problems plaguing football in Cameroon were put at the doorsteps of Iya, who Eto’o also accuses of taking some of the controversial decisions without consulting the other executive members.

It is news of the Unity Palace audience granted Eto’o, The Guardian Post has been told, that has forced Iya to hurriedly summoned an emergency FECAFOOT meeting in Yaounde on Wednesday October 3, 2012.

Inside sources at FECAFOOT have equally hinted The Guardian Post that to avoid a confrontation with President Biya who is reportedly so bitter with Iya Mohammed over the poor management of football in the country, the FECAFOOT boss may be forced to resign after Wednesday’s crisis meeting.

If that were to happen, then FECAFOOT 1^st vice president and former minister of transport, John B. Ndeh would step into complete Iya’s mandate.

Even though the 1^st vice president, Ndeh, The Guardian Post has been reliably told, was never consulted by Iya before some of the controversial decisions that have killed Cameroon football were taken.

In most circumstances, FECAFOOT officials told The Guardian Post, Iya sidelined Ndeh, an Anglophone and preferred to work with junior Francophones; who are none FA officials.

Eto’o announces return

Meanwhile Samuel Eto’o Fils has in a communiqué posted on his website announced his return to the national team.

Apparently citing the Unity Palace audience, Eto’o in the communiqué, published on September 27, 2012 insisted that his imminent return to the national team has been influenced by “the highest authority of the republic”.

Wrote Eto’o “I am convinced that by prioritizing the interest of the country as topmost together, we will be able, with God’s help, to give back Cameroon’s football its panache and raisonnement d’antan”.