15th November, 2012
Returnee Cameroon skipper, Samuel Eto’o, has called for unity in order for them to avoid a repeat of the Nations Cup debacle, and focus on 2014 World Cup qualification.
Cameroon was stunned by lowly rated Cape Verde, who defeated the four-time champions 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for the Nations Cup in South Africa.
The Indomitable Lions were believed to have factions in their squad, which led to their poor performances in the Nations Cup qualifiers, but Eto’o who missed eight months of action for Cameroon, following disciplinary sanctions has called on the team to bury their hatchet and try to secure qualification for Brazil 2014.
“The failures we have experienced in recent years have been a huge frustration but that’s life, with its moments of joy and also its moments of sadness,” Eto’o said in an interview with the official daily Cameroon Tribune on Wednesday.
“Nowadays, I think that the most important thing is the future. We should draw lessons from our mistakes of the past, recover, heal our wounds and move forward,” Eto’o said.
“I believe deeply that failure can be the foundation of success. We must build on this frustration to find the strength necessary to bounce back,” added the 31-year-old Anzhi makhachkala striker.
“The Indomitable Lions are one big family. The players realise the responsibility to the people of Cameroon. It’s our duty to live up positively to the expectations. I think we are in the right direction,” Eto’o said.