Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, praised Morocco for its exemplary organization and warm hospitality during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following Cameroon’s quarterfinal exit from the tournament.
In a statement issued Saturday, Jan. 10, Eto’o congratulated his Moroccan counterpart, Fouzi Lekjaa, after the Indomitable Lions were eliminated by the host nation in a 2–0 defeat on Friday, Jan. 9, at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Goals from Ibrahim Díaz and Ismaël Saibari sent the Atlas Lions into the semifinals.
“On behalf of the Cameroonian delegation and supporters, I extend our respectful greetings and sporting congratulations, in a spirit of fair play and mutual respect,” Eto’o said in the letter.
He also expressed “deep gratitude” for the “fraternal, warm and generous” welcome extended to the team and its fans by the Moroccan people.
Eto’o lauded the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) for its “remarkable preparatory work” and the overall high standards of the tournament, which kicked off Dec. 21, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on Jan. 18, 2026. The competition has earned widespread praise from officials, teams and fans alike.
Despite Morocco’s victory, the quarterfinal was not without controversy. The match drew significant criticism over refereeing decisions, including several unawarded penalty calls for both sides and a lack of VAR intervention.
The officiating, led by Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida, was widely debated in the aftermath.
Eto’o concluded his message by wishing Morocco’s national team, the Lions of the Atlas, success in the remainder of the competition.
According to the Moroccan news website Assahifa, the quarterfinal was preceded by off-field tension linked to the late announcement of the refereeing team, amid reports that inaccurate information about the match officials had circulated beforehand.
