Still looking trim and fit even in retirement, Samuel Eto’o, has recalled with glee his first Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2000 when the indomitable Lions of Cameroon trumped the Super Eagles in a nail-biting finale at the National Stadium in Surulere, in Lagos
The joint- four time record winner (along with Ivorian Yaya Toure) of the prestigious African footballer of the Year prize in his playing days, scored the opening goal of the exciting final match while his compatriots Patrick Mboma added the second in a first half blitz. But Nigeria soon clawed back with Raphael Chukwu ‘s goal in the dying moments of the first half while Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s struck a superb free kick in the second half to tie the game 2-2 even at extra time. The Indomitable Lions eventually took home the prize in a 5-3 win in the ensuing penalty shoot-out.
“ I will say the 2000 Africa Cup of nations win in Nigeria is one of my best experiences as a player, “ the 40-year-old Eto’o said as much during a virtual media roundtable organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.“ We won the AFCON and that was my first time and it’s one of my best experiences as player.”
Now an Ambassador for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, the former Barcelona striker said he wished he is ten years younger and would have been a magical moment for him to feature at the forthcoming 22nd Mundial and the first to be hosted next year in the Middle East.
Qatar 2022 would be held in eight venues across in five host cities and Eto’o reckoned that the infrastructures already on ground for the quadrennial event would be second to none.
“ I have been privileged to visit all the stadiums that are going to be used for the Qatar 2022 and I can say for sure that all the facilities will be ready at the end of this year,” assured Eto’o.
“ Frankly, I wished I’m ten years younger to have been able to play at the next World Cup because all the Qatari stadiums are some special; spectacle that the World will be marvelled to see come 2022.”
But speaking about the on-going qualifiers for the delayed 2021 AFCON to be hosted by Cameroon in 2022, Eto’o is miffed with the manner some of the European clubs especially in France nearly messed up the preparations of many African sides in this current international window.
“ What the French Federation did by issuing a travel ban to African players in Ligue 1 and 2 was quite bad but I must salute the steadfastness and great spirit of the African teams for pressing for the release of the their players,” noted Eto’o who won the AFCON twice in 2000 and 2002 from six appearances with the Indomitable Lions.“ I hope FIFA can intervene in such things in the future because we need the best players to represent our teams.”
As per the chances of an African teams reaching the podium at Qatar 2022, Eto’o quipped:“ That African players are good and can compete with the rest of the world has never being in doubt but I think we have to collectively believe that we can conquer the world.
“ If you look at some of the best clubs in the world today, you see a lot of African players being among their most important players and I think Nigeria and Cameroon have shown what Africa is capable of doing by winning the soccer Gold medals at the Olympics respectively in 1996 and 2000 ; we have to believe an African team can do it at Qatar 2022.”
Leave a Reply