Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o was left fuming with the Indomitable Lions’ performance in their win over Burundi on Thursday night, and made his feelings known after the match.
The Indomitable Lions got their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory over Burundi to launch them into first position in Group C.
Rigobert Song’s side were expected to ease comfortably past Burundi as there is a 102-place gap between the two teams in FIFA’s latest world rankings.
However, the two nations were separated only by Karl Toko Ekambi’s 30th-minute strike, and Eto’o decided to send a strong warning to the dressing room after the encounter.
“I am not happy, I am not happy at all,” the former Barcelona striker said in the team’s changing room, per FECAFOOT TV.
“You represent Cameroon national team. I don’t care who is in front of you, you need to get the job done.
“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 presidency to change things, and spots in this squad will be expensive.
“Nobody is guaranteed to be in this squad, you have to do your job. If you want to come and put on the Cameroon shirt, you have to do your job when you’re in this team.
“Otherwise do not bother to come, and I will be happy to be play with kids. I sat there 26 years ago just like you and I know what you’re thinking: ‘This guy is a bastard.’
“I know why I missed out but today I am president. I will 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 conditions. You’re all sitting there not knowing what kind of fights I have got behind the scenes.
“For me, there is nothing more beautiful than Cameroon, and I am going to get to 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 am telling you.
“Because for this World Cup? Do not be sure to be on the list.
“Based on what I saw today? You won’t be. I need more, boys.
“I am dreaming of winning this World Cup and all the problems I encountered as a player will not occur again, and my first choice will be to have a humanly good group.
“I had bad World Cups because I wasn’t part of a humanly good group. But I had big players, very good players, believe me, boys. I had incredible teams but they weren’t humanly good.
“So my first challenge is to create a group that is happy to live together.
“From the moment we live together? We will in, boys.”
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