Posted by Punch on
Cameroun's Samuel Eto'o will play for his country at the African Nations Cup in Egypt, Spanish club, Barcelona have indicated.
Cameroun's Samuel Eto'o will play for his country at the African Nations Cup in Egypt, Spanish club, Barcelona have indicated.
There had been some doubt whether the African Footballer of the Year would play in the competition, but he has now been cleared by Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard to join up with his national squad on January 16.
Cameroun, anxious to beat the January 10 deadline for submitting their squad list to the Confederation of African Football, pressed for a decision on whether the free-scoring forward he will be in Egypt.
The Indomitable Lions, who are up against Angola, Togo and DR Congo in Group B, are hoping to win their third continental title in six years and their fifth championship overall.
On top of various league encounters, the 24-year-old Eto'o could also miss several Spanish Cup encounters if Cameroun do well in the tournament.
Eto'o is this season's top scorer for Barcelona, averaging a goal a game for the reigning champions and current Spanish league leaders.
The Cameroonian's final duty for his club before he leaves for Egypt will be a home league game against Athletic Bilbao on January 15.
Should Cameroun reach the final, the Spaniards will have to do without Eto'o's services for a month.
The PUNCH, Friday, January 06, 2006