Samuel Eto'o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Association and former star of Barcelona, Inter, and Chelsea, apologized to national team coach Marc Wilmots on Thursday after a heated argument earlier in the week.
Eto'o confirmed that Wilmots will remain in his position, despite previously announcing his replacement as Cameroon's coach.
"I apologize because during our unfortunate first meeting, there were a lot of emotions... but the Cameroonian people are more important than us, and for their sake we must work," Eto'o said in a press conference.
The two-time African Nations champion added, "Your task is not easy, despite your qualifications and experience, but you must know that you will have our support."
Eto'o's apology comes after a video clip circulated on social media showing him sharply attacking Wilmots during a planned meeting at the federation. Wilmots maintained his composure but appeared affected by the incident.
The controversy began when Eto'o considered Wilmots' appointment as coach "illegal" in a letter to the Ministry of Sports, as Wilmots was appointed by the country's president, Paul Biya, without consulting the football federation.
Cameroon is now preparing for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, with upcoming matches against Cape Verde on June 8 and Angola on June 11. Despite the tension, Eto'o's apology marks a positive step towards resolving the issue and supporting the national team.