Samuel Eto’o, the head of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), was honored with an award by the United Nations at the 78th United Nations General Assembly. The award was given to recognize his efforts in combating the abuse and trafficking of individuals in sports. Eto’o expressed his pleasure in speaking at a high-level side event during the assembly, where he addressed the issue of exploitation and human trafficking in sports.
The UN General Assembly, held in New York from September 19 to 26, brought together global leaders and stakeholders under the theme of “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.”
During his speech, Eto’o discussed the safety measures his team at FECAFOOT plans to implement for football players in Cameroon. They aim to utilize biometrics as a means to combat scams in sports. Eto’o emphasized the importance of collaboration and the use of new technologies to address this issue. The implementation of fingerprint ID cards will help ensure the safety of individuals and enable better tracking of payments, ensuring that players receive what they earn.
Eto’o also praised the achievements of the football league thus far and highlighted ongoing projects to improve football infrastructure. He expressed his commitment to elevating Cameroon’s football to the global level, not only for Cameroon but for all of Africa.
While Eto’o has faced accusations of fraud and mismanagement from opponents, staff members, and collaborators, there are those who believe he is the right person to lead the Cameroon football landscape forward. The verdict from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is pending regarding the accusations made against him.