Suspicions of rigged Covid tests at CAN: Samuel Eto'o rejects accusations
Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o elected president of the Cameroon Football Federation on December 11, 2021. AFP - DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
3 mins
Cameroon, the organizing country of CAN 2022, which had announced four cases before the start of the competition, has not deplored any since the opening of the tournament.
A situation that raised many questions among other delegations.
At the microphone of RFI, Samuel Eto'o, president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, protests against these allegations.
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During this CAN 2022, Cameroon, which was initially to organize the 2019 edition finally relocated to Egypt, has a major adversary: the Covid-19 pandemic and the Omicron variant.
Many selections have been disrupted by cases of Covid, such as Senegal, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde or even Gabon (deprived of its star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang).
Since the start of the competition, the Tunisian selection has been the most affected by the Covid.
Before the match against Gambia in the group stage, it counted 12 positive cases.
The Comoros even had to play their round of 16 against Cameroon without a professional goalkeeper, with a full-back in goal.
The Cameroonian host was spared, prompting surprised and dubious comments from some opponents.
"
I'd rather lose than win by cheating
"
“
It is unhealthy to accuse Cameroon of cheating by manipulating Covid tests.
The agency responsible for the tests
(a Swiss laboratory)
is entirely under the control of CAF.
She was chosen by CAF.
And Cameroon has accepted to reassure our partners in clubs
”, declares Samuel Eto'o, new president of the Cameroonian Football Federation, at the microphone of our correspondent Joël Wadem.
“
I repeat, it is unhealthy to want to accuse the Cameroonian Football Federation or the Cameroonian government.
You know me, I tried to be a champion in the stadiums.
You have to understand that under my mandate, I could not defend such a practice.
I am someone who stands for excellence.
I'd rather lose than win by cheating.
This does not exist in Cameroonian football
, ”supports the former Barcelona player.
“
Our medical staff has been remarkable
”
“
We have won several CANs, in the stadiums, without ever cheating.
We are Olympic gold medalists all the same.
Do you think I can engineer this?
Do you think that the Cameroonian government has only that to do?
asks Samuel Eto'o.
“
The evening of December 29, I received the technical staff of Cameroon and I wanted a protocol around the team. At the time, we had eight or nine cases. You don't realize, the victories are in the details. I was a top athlete, I know that it is the details that make the victories. Our medical staff has been outstanding. We checked everyone around the team. They are tested daily, like the players. That's why we have no more cases. Even the doctors who check the players are checked before entering the team. My supervisory minister is tested before seeing the players
, ”explains the president of the Cameroon Football Federation. “
We have offered the world one of the most beautiful CANs.
»
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