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Samuel Eto'o, who has just ended his long football career, gave an interview to RFI. He talks about his career and African football, among other things. He evokes the rest and could stay in the middle of the ball, why not as a coach.
" I traveled the world as a footballer, it's time for me to move on ," says Samuel Eto'o in this interview.
The former Cameroonian international, 38, who admits having experienced " beautiful moments ", especially holds the 2000 Africa Cup in Ghana and Nigeria he won. " It was a unique moment for me. I was the youngest and I fought to be inescapable. I felt that we were going to win . "
" Cameroon must win more "
Samuel Eto'o also remembers his victory at the King's Cup with Mallorca. " For us, that meant a lot ," he says. Eto'o also remembers Cameroon-Brazil where his mother had made the trip to Europe for the first time and where he believes he scored the best goal of his career. " Before the meeting, I asked for a T-shirt with " thank you, mom ".
In 2004, Samuel Eto'o also remembers the decline of Cameroon in 2004 after winning two African Cups of Nations. " We had the opportunity to win the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa. But when you believe in something, the others do not believe it, "he grieves while acknowledging some of the responsibility in the deleterious atmosphere that was at the time on the national team.
In 2019, Cameroon, defending champion, misses his CAN in Egypt under the leadership of Clarence Seedorf. " Cameroon must win more. Cameroon is Brazil of Africa, "argues the former Barça player.
Give it a place
Regarding the CAN 2019 that did not take place in Cameroon as planned, Samuel Eto'o admits to feeling " very bad ". " I have done everything to improve relations between the State of Cameroon and the African Football Confederation. I finished my mission by ensuring that Cameroon does not lose its CAN and that it is postponed. "
" I am a unique player. I must be given my place. I am the best in Africa. I won it in the stadiums, it's a fact. Others know it and have to accept it. Someone else will come and do better than me. I know I'm not eternal, "says Samuel Eto'o about him.
" We are only good at denigrating our own brothers "
A propos of the Golden Ball, the former striker has " no frustration " never to have obtained, he wants to his continent: " We are only good to denigrate our own brothers ." He continues, " We are not respected. We can not explain that Mané, Salah or Aubameyang can not be in the top 5. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are very strong, but this season is Mané and Salah. "
" I wanted to have several doors open at the end of my career. I will not be far from football. I will only do things that make me happy. And even if people love me, I do not think I'm going into politics, "says the former Milanese who could embrace a" coaching career ".
" I'm going to rest, I need a vacation. I'm going to travel with my lovely wife, "says Eto'o.
Interview by Alain Foka