Africa-Press – Lesotho. Fresh controversy has erupted in Cameroonian football as Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), has been accused of engineering the exclusion of star striker Vincent Aboubakar from the Indomitable Lions’ squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
According to a report by The Sun, Eto’o allegedly influenced national team selectors to drop the Beşiktaş forward in a bid to protect his long-standing AFCON goal-scoring record.
The publication claims the former Barcelona and Inter Milan legend did not want Aboubakar, who has been in prolific form for Cameroon at recent tournaments, edging closer to surpassing his tally.
Aboubakar, captain of the national team and one of Cameroon’s most experienced attackers, was widely expected to lead the line at the tournament in Morocco.
His omission has sparked intense debate among fans, especially given his status as one of the country’s most consistent performers at major competitions.
Eto’o, who scored 18 AFCON goals in his illustrious career, remains the tournament’s all-time top scorer.
Aboubakar’s outstanding showing at the 2021 edition—where he netted eight times—had only fueled discussions about his potential to overtake the record.
While FECAFOOT has not issued any official response to the allegation, football observers in the country say the development highlights growing tensions within the national team setup ahead of the competition.
Cameroon, five-time African champions, head into AFCON 2025 with expectations high, but the controversy surrounding squad selection has now overshadowed preparations.
Fans will be watching closely to see whether the team can rise above internal disputes and mount a serious challenge for the continental title.
Aboubakar has yet to publicly comment on the reports.
