Cameroon’s government is trying to settle the dispute between the Cameroonian soccer federation, Fecafoot, and national team captain Samuel Eto’o, who was banned for 15 matches for his role in a players’ strike that led to the cancellation of an international match with Algeria on Nov. 15.

“The government is closely following the developments and is looking [at] possibilities of bringing together the various parties involved, in an effort to resolve the problem and restore harmony,” Sports Minister Adoum Garoua said in a statement.

The ban was criticized by the Cameroon players’ union president Davis Mayebi and former great Roger Milla.

Mayebi said the length of the ban had brought Cameroonian soccer into disrepute internationally.

“Our football is in disaster," added Milla. "It is in total failure. Punishing Samuel, who happens to be our goal getter and captain of our national team, with up to 15 games absence is indirectly a way to send him on forced retirement.”