At the end of July, when the Women’s African Cup of Nations had just ended in Morocco, Samuel Eto’o decided to put an end to the contract which had linked the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot) since 2019 with the French equipment manufacturer Le Coq Sportif. Since then, the name of the brand that will dress the Indomitable Lions, especially during the World Cup in Qatar in December, is not yet known.
Fécafoot said, without giving further details, that three equipment manufacturers had been selected after the call for applications launched after breach of previous contract. The authority affirmed that the secrecy would be lifted soon. But which brands have therefore positioned themselves to represent Cameroonian footballers in this competition? pour which Samuel Eto’o does not lack ambition?
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Three sports giants
According to our information, the former FC Barcelona attacker, who is in the front line on this file, would have retained Nike, Adidas and Puma, the three most prestigious brands in the sector. Puma would even be the best placed. The German equipment manufacturer has indeed equipped the Cameroonian selections from 1997 to 2019, when Seidou Mbombo Njoya, the former president of FECAFOOThad announced the end of a long partnership, for lack of being able to find an agreement to extend the contract.
This separation may therefore not be final. Samuel Eto’o, who was the brand’s ambassador for many years when he played for Real Mallorca, FC Barcelona or Inter Milan, has maintained strong relationships with company executives. The German equipment manufacturer is already under contract with numerous federations, several of which – Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, Uruguay, Serbia, Switzerland – will be present in Qatar.
“A prestigious brand, known worldwide”
The other two tracks lead, still according to our information, to the American Nike and the German Adidas. And they are not to be neglected. Samuel Eto’o has indeed entered the first, which equips some of the best selections in the world, including France, Brazil, England and the Netherlands. “He wants the Lions to be dressed by a prestigious brand, known worldwide. He is not going to sign a contract with an equipment manufacturer with a lesser reputation. That’s why he personally manages this file, ” slip a close friend of Fécafoot.
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In 1996, Nike was the ephemeral equipment supplier of the Lions, after Adidas, a few years earlier (1988-1993). “Samuel Eto’o wants a big name in sports equipment, because in addition to the question of image, there is the guarantee of obtaining very good conditions”, continues this source. In recent days, other names of potential equipment manufacturers have circulated, in particular the Italian Macron, who has applied, and the American New Balance. But these tracks appear less credible. According to our information, the choice of Samuel Eto’o should be known in the coming days.
Legal consequences
Fécafoot assured that the decision was imminent. We understand it: the new equipment supplier will not have much time to present the Indomitable Lions outfit for the World Cup. An exercise on which, according to our information, Le Coq Sportif was already well advanced, until Samuel Eto’o decided to put an end to the contract between the two parties. Also according to our information, Puma has already started working on a Cameroonian design.
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The jersey worn by the Lions during the qualifications for the World Cup, the final phase of the CAN 2022 and the first qualifying matches of the 2024 edition is also still available on the Le Coq Sportif website. The French company, which is following the case very closely, announced on August 3 that it will take legal action on the unilateral termination of the contract which bound it to the Fécafoot.
