Roger Milla Quits Cameroon FA Executive Committee - Report

Cameroonian-born ex-soccer superstar Roger Milla, 58, has left his country’s football federation (FECAFOOT) Executive Committee after failing to obtain an apology he had demanded from the body at a meeting on Saturday 21 August in Yaoundé.

The affair dates back to days before the kick off of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Milla had given an interview to a local newspaper criticising internationals’ Samuel Eto’o for playing poorly for the national team unlike at his club, and criticising then coach Paul Le Guen over player selection. Eto’o responded days later threatening to boycott the World Cup if Cameroon’s football authorities did not intervene.

FECAFOOT and the Sports Ministry took the side of Eto’o, distancing themselves from Milla’s position. Milla, who had not welcomed the attitude of the sports officials, clearly asked for apology during Saturday’s meeting held at Hotel Mont Febe in Yaoundé.

Short of getting an apology, the oldest goalscorer in a World Cup tournament withdrew from the Executive Committee of FECAFOOT, according to Goal.com’s source.

Cameroon was the first nation to crash out of the 2010 World Cup, under French-born coach Le Guen, who was fired immediately after. Spanish-born, former Olympique Marseille and Real Betis manager Javier Clemente is the Lion's new coach, and preparing the outfit ahead of the 2012 African Cup of Nations to be jointly hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Cameroon are matched up against Senegal, Mauritius and DR Congo in Group E. Qualifiers kick off in early September.