Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) president Samuel Eto’o told CNN Sports that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has done nothing wrong regarding the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal. Eto’o, a former world‑class striker for clubs such as Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid, said the timing of the criticism is tied to the upcoming FIFA presidential election in March.

Support from an African voice

Eto’o praised Infantino for expanding opportunities for smaller nations, noting that the FFE plan would have helped distribute wealth more fairly and improve facilities for developing football federations. He highlighted the potential for nations like Cameroon to attract top talent, mentioning Kylian Mbappé’s Cameroonian heritage.

Continental backlash and pockets of backing

While several confederations—including UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation—have called for leadership change, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) remains a rare supporter of Infantino. Eto’o echoed this stance on social media, thanking Infantino for “changing football” and urging other African federations to stand with him.

FIFA’s response and future prospects

FIFA has since withdrawn the FFE proposal and apologized for missteps, attributing the controversy to erroneous media coverage. Eto’o believes a democratic vote at the next election could revive the project, arguing it would benefit the majority of member nations.

Election mechanics

The FIFA presidential election is scheduled for March 2027. A formal request from 20% of the 211 member associations could trigger an extraordinary congress and a vote of no confidence, though no clear guidelines have been published.

For now, Infantino remains in office, and supporters like Eto’o continue to advocate for his re‑election and the potential return of the Forward Enterprise plan.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.