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Football

11th Jun 2022

Samuel Eto’o hits out at Cameroon squad in passionate dressing room rant

Callum Boyle

Samuel Eto'o

‘I don’t care who is in front of you, you need to get the job done’

Samuel Eto’o launched a scathing attack on the Cameroon national team in an impassioned dressing room rant after their win against Burundi.

Lyon star Karl Toko Ekambi scored the only goal of the game in a narrow win during the African Cup of Nations qualifying win on Friday night.

Eto’o, who is now the president of the Cameroonian Football Association, wasn’t happy with his country’s performance and criticised the players for their efforts and urged them to improve ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.

Video footage showed the former Barcelona striker addressing the squad with a passionate speech.

“I am not happy. I’m not happy at all. You represent the Cameroonian national team. I don’t care who is in front of you, you need to get the job done,” he said.

“I cried for years because I had bad World Cups. But I knew what problem I had and why I had bad World Cups. And that is not going to happen as long as I am president. I accepted the presidency to change things and spots on this squad will be expensive.

“Nobody is guaranteed a place in this squad. You have to do your job. If you want to come and put the Cameroonian shirt on you have to do your job.

“Otherwise don’t bother to come and I’ll be happy. I will be happy to have the kids play.”

The Indomitable Lions are in a group containing Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia and Eto’o warned them that a replica of their performance against Burundi will cost them a place in the squad for the tournament.

“I was sat there at 26 years just like you and I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking ‘this guy is a b******’ but I was the best sitting there,” he added.

“And I know why I missed out but today I’m the president. I’ll give anything for you to be in the best conditions, even my life.

“I will fight with everyone for you guys to be in the best possible conditions. Because you’re all sitting there not knowing what kind of fights I’ve got behind the scenes to put you in the best of conditions.

“But when we come here it’s Cameroon, boys. For me there’s nothing more beautiful than Cameroon. There’s nothing more important.

“I would give my life for my country. There’s nothing more beautiful. I have a very high estimate of my country. And I’m going to get where I want to be with or without you.

“If you want to be part of this journey, I suggest you get moving, boys, I’m telling you because for this World Cup, do not be sure to be on this list.”

Eto’o is Cameroon’s leading goalscorer of all time with 56 goals, and was appointed president of the Cameroon FA back in December.

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