With less than a week to go before the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Fecafoot president Samuel Eto’o has made a remarkable statement about the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon. The least we can say is that the former Barça striker, who once again lashed out at his detractors, remains extremely wary of Rigobert Song’s team.
Cameroon remains one of the great football nations of the African continent. Always present at major football events, the country of Roger Milla and Joseph Antoine Bell is eagerly awaited in Côte d’Ivoire for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off on 13 January. Fifth-time champions Cameroon remain one of the automatic favourites for this 34th edition of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. While preparations continue with the arrival of Patrick Mboma to bring his experience to the team, it is unclear what objective Samuel Eto’o’s Fecafoot has set for the team led by Rigobert Song.
With Senegal, Gambia and Guinea in Group C of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, the Indomitable Lions have no room for error. As the controversies surrounding the Cameroon team set up by the coach continue to emerge and the criticism continues to rain down on him, Samuel Eto’o is particularly wary. At least, that’s what we understand after his outburst at the 1XBET E-HUB Awards on Saturday.
Samuel Eto’o says little about Cameroon’s goals
In fact, when asked to publicly reveal the objectives assigned to the Lions just a few days before the start of the competition, the head of FECAFOOT publicly refused to get involved. “I can’t comment on the event that will take place in a few days’ time (AFCON 2023) in our beautiful country, Côte d’Ivoire, but Cameroon is Cameroon. And for us, Cameroon has even become the continent,” Samuel Eto’o told Actucameroun.
It has to be said that the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations remains a very open competition in which all the teams are equal. For several observers and big names in continental football, it is difficult to pick a favourite for the final title. Rigobert Song’s Cameroon, while still a great footballing nation, lacks the necessary serenity to assert itself directly as a candidate for the final crown ahead of teams like Senegal, Morocco and even Algeria. Samuel Eto’o, who has been heavily criticised for his management of FECAFOOT, is no doubt avoiding giving his many detractors the opportunity to take him at his word should the tournament prove a flop.
“Those who are in bad faith will get down on their knees”
Speaking at the 1XBET E-HUB Awards, the former Chelsea Blues and Inter Milan striker sent a salty message to those who attack him. Whether it’s his former team-mates or the elders of the national team who are constantly denouncing his way of managing football in Cameroon, Samuel Eto’o has had something to say to everyone.
“Remember, a little over two years ago, when I stood for election to FECAFOOT, they said it was impossible, that you had to be a sorcerer to beat those who were there. But we did. And every day that goes by, they criticise everything because they don’t like this brilliant young woman. I have no problem with that […] In 4 years’ time, they’ll judge what I’ve done, but I’m sure that even those in bad faith will get down on their knees,” he says, as relayed by Actucamerouna.
In any case, Cameroonians have high expectations of their team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Whether or not the team’s objectives are made public, a humiliation during the tournament, which ends on 11 February, will cause a huge stir. Eto’o, who is often accused of favouritism towards his former captain, Rigobert Song, who leads the national team, will once again be taken to task. I hope everything goes well for Cameroon.
How far do you think Cameroon will get at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations?
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