Samuel Eto’o, the Inter Milan striker and captain of the Indomitable Lions, Cameroon's national team, appeared as a witness in the case on the financial management of the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT). The hearing was part of an ongoing probe into the troubled state of Cameroonian soccer, as well as the team’s poor performances in last year’s World Cup and African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

By Eric Kouamo, Douala

The inquiry was triggered by Cameroon’s laborious qualification for these two major international tournaments. This, despite notable financial and material support from Cameroonian authorities to the players and staff.

The Indomitable Lions’ captain, Samuel Eto’o was heard, together with FECAFOOT President Iya Mohammed, on the details of the case. But fingers were pointed at the federation, as it is still to account for its spending.“He said he was going to Yaoundé to answer a judicial summon”, explains Eto’o’s family member over the phone.

A high profile summon
Eto'o's court appearance as a witness made headlines in the local press. Samuel Eto’o, who currently plays for the prestigious Italian club Inter Milan, was asked about the Indomitable Lions’ bad performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Cameroon was knocked out in the first round, the worst performance in the country’s world cup history.
The Cameroonian public was outraged by the missed penalty from Samuel Eto’o in the dying moments of the AFCON qualifier against Senegal, on 04 June. A goal and subsequent win would have kept alive Cameroon’s hopes to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations. At the end of the game, angry supporters at the 0-0 result burned Eto’o jerseys and threatened to kill him.

Internal trouble
The star striker apologised in a press conference following the match. There is also the tension within the national team. Ever since he was appointed as captain of the Indomitable Lions, serenity has left the national side. There are reportedly tensions between Samuel Eto’o and Arsenal midfielder Alexandre Song.

It is reported that Eto’o declined to shake Song’s hand at their last training session. Although possessing irreproachable skills as a player, Samuel Eto’o’s leadership of the Indomitable Lions remains source for concern. A role, however, that he consider “essential” in his career.