The move has been linked to a fight that occurred between Njitap and the head of protocol of FECAFOOT president, Samuel Eto’o Fils during the 2023 AFCON. The said misunderstanding concluded with Eto’o chasing Njitap from the Lions’ dressing room.
The Ethics Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT has slammed a five-year ban on former Cameroon international, Geremi Njitap. The development is contained in a ruling from the committee which went viral across social media networks yesterday. The ruling is dated Monday May 28. It is signed by the president of the Ethics Committee, Njoh Aurelien and its rapporteur, Emaha Bertin. FECAFOOT in the document accuses the former Lions midfielder of violating the rules of general conduct of article 13, sub 1 and 3 of its code of ethics. The sanction has been linked to a fight that occurred between Njitap and the head of protocol of FECAFOOT president, Samuel Eto’o Fils during the 2023 AFCON which took place last year.
The said misunderstanding which happened after the Indomitable Lions registered a dramatic 3-2 win over The Gambia in the final day of Group D actions in the tournament, concluded with Eto’o chasing Njitap from the Lions’ dressing room. the incident involved FECAFOOT security and protocol officials who had asked Njitap to leave the dressing room where the team was celebrating its last-minute victory over the West African nation in the round of 16 fixture. “I received firm instruction from FECAFOOT president; Geremi must leave the locker room. If you take one more step, I will punch you”, Eto’o Fils’ protocol staff, Etienne Tamo notably stated during the alteration after Njitap had fired back at the security officials to “Go and tell the one who sent you to come and carry out the instruction himself.
What is he afraid of?” when he was first told to leave the room. The recent ruling by the committee also slammed SYNAFOC Secretary General, Ngos Daniel Blaise with a two-year ban from involvement in all football-related activities in Cameroon and an additional fine of five million FCFA. Njitap’s suspension has been joining a growing long-list of football authorities who have either been suspended or fallen out with Samuel Eto’o since he was elected as FECAFOOT president in December 2021. A section of analysts suggest that Njitap’s suspension is just part of the changing dynamics in the football landscape in the country as FECAFOOT edges closer to forthcoming elections. FECAFOOT is expected to organize elections in December this year to elect the president of the federation and his team of collaborators.
According to pundits, Njitap had emerged in the last years as a potential challenge for current president, Samuel Eto’o. Eto’o who is now serving the last seven months of his first four-year mandate as the president’s chief, is expected to enter the 2025 race as the incumbent candidate. It is believed that the recent ban on Njitap is designed to clear path for Eto’o Fils’ smooth reelection during the forthcoming 2025 polls which is expected to take place in December this year.
Besides his position as SYNAFOC president, Njitap is also the African regional head of the International Federation of Professional Footballers Associations, FIFPro. He is seen as a figure that is strong enough to give Eto’o a serious run for his money during the election exercise.
