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Despite boasting exceptional talent, African countries have failed to make their mark on the grandest stage of football. Cameroon, Senegal and Ghan have made it beyond the Round of 16 in previous World Cup tournaments but going further has been a difficult task.
The Qatar extravaganza will provide another opportunity to improve that record. Samuel Eto’o is a staunch believer in this and predicts it will be his home nation that will manage this gargantuan task.
Not only this, the President of the Cameroonian football federation believes it will be an all-African affair in Qatar. He believes Morocco will also be able to march through the challenges in the 2022 World Cup and face off against the Indomitable Lions on 18th December.
Samuel Eto’o has made a bold claim that Cameroon will beat Morocco in the final of this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
‘Africa has always had the potential to achieve a successful World Cup, but we haven’t always shown our best face up to now,‘ Eto’o told ESPN. ‘During the years, African teams have acquired more and more experience, and I think they’re ready not only to participate in a World Cup, but also to win it.
‘As president of our federation, I would love to see Cameroon win the World Cup,’ he added. ‘Cameroon will win the World Cup final against Morocco.’
Overcoming the obstacles is possible for Cameroon
The odds are stacked against African sides, who have had talent drained from their ranks by European countries. Despite the setbacks, Eto’o knows that overcoming those hindrances is possible and the current crop of players has the ability to do so.
The country’s record goalscorer and member of four World Cup expeditions believes his compatriots can get the job done.
Eto’o overcame adversity at numerous stages of his career himself, coming through Real Madrid’s youth ranks before establishing himself at Barcelona. Eto’o left the Catalan club in acrimonious circumstances for Inter Milan, where he would further cement his legendary status.
His time with Inter Milan saw him complete the Serie A and Champions League double in the 2009/10 campaign. The Nerazzurri made it to the Champions League final that season after overcoming Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona before defeating Bayern Munich in the final.
It is that season that the 41-year-old wants Cameroon to draw inspiration from. Eto’o hailed his teammates for the warrior mentality that they developed under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage.
Samuel Eto'o gives his prediction for the World Cup final 🔮 pic.twitter.com/qe11EVqlOr
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 9, 2022
‘I don’t see why we can’t win,’ he said. ‘I believe that to win the World Cup you don’t need to be monsters or aliens, you just need good preparation, a strong mentality, and a pinch of madness.
‘I always take Inter as an example: No one at the start of 2009-10 thought we could win the Champions League, but [Jose] Mourinho did something crazy, with a group of men and warriors.
‘I want the same thing as that for Cameroon as well.”
Cameroon kickstart their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on November 24 at the Al Janoub Stadium. Tougher tasks await them further with meetings against Serbia and Brazil on matchdays one and two. Rigobert Song’s men will have to be at their best to get through the ‘Group of Death’ before a potential Round of 16 appearance.
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