CMR miss the Eto’o factor as 'Goal Drought' hit Lions

After the Lions failed outing in Equatorial Guinea that saw them ousted from the tourney after scoring just two goals in three matches, The Post takes a look at how the absence of the Samuel Eto’o factor affected the team.

Samuel Eto’o retired from international duty with 56 goals in 118 caps after 17 years in the squad with a ratio of 0.47 goals per match (a goal every two matches).

It is never an easy thing for a team to lose its best player who has been the mask man, from March 9, 1997 to August 27, 2014. Such is the plight faced by Cameroon at this year’s AFCON.

Volker Finke’s team crashed out of the African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea after recording two draws, one defeat and scoring just two goals. Returning from the World Cup in Brazil, the Lions have been in a superb form that only saw their 12 matches unbeaten run stopped by The Elephants of Ivory Coast.

It should be noted that since the lions 2-0 defeat against Sierra Leone during the AFCON qualifiers on October 15.2014, the lions have are yet to score more than one goal in 8 matches.

After the victory over the Sierra Leoneans, the Indomitable Lions have been limping as they have recorded just a single victory (against DR Congo), one defeat and six draws in their last eight matches.

Under Eto’o’s 17 years of reign, Cameroon has participated in four World Cups, seven AFCONs and two FIFA Confederations Cups with Eto’o scoring in at least all the tournaments. Thanks to the contributions of his goals, Cameroon won two AFCONs (2000 and 2004), 2000 Sidney Summer Olympics, Silver at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and the LG Cup.

He also emerged top goal scorer in two AFCONs, 2006 (5 goals) and 2008 (5 goals). He also was named the highest goal scorer with 18 goals in 7 participations, 7 goals ahead of 5th place Patrick Mboma with 11 goals.

Going by his 18 goals in seven AFCONs, it shows that each time Cameroon went into the AFCON; Eto’o scored at least two goals in every edition.

During his time with the Lions, he also won the African Player of the year award four times, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 making him the first person to win it four times.

It is definitely no doubt that the veteran striker was hitting his menopause in his football career, however, his experience would have help the lions young attacking force learn how to be clinical finishers.

Eto’o’s Successors Flopped At AFCON Eto’o’s resignation was a hard pill to swallow for some Cameroon supporters, but to others, life must go on. It is certain that, before him, there was Milla, Mboma, among others, and after him, there will still be others. So far, things seem to be going towards the right direction during the qualifiers, until now, Cameroonians are in doubt.

FC Porto’s striker, 22-year-old Vincent Aboubakar tipped as Eto’o’s successor had a brilliant form during the qualifiers. His form made many to start forgetting the absence of Eto’o as he has been scoring in almost every game. It should be noted that 6 of his seven goals came after the resignation of Samuel Eto’o. He failed to convince Cameroonians that he was the right man to fit into the boots of Eto’o during the AFCON.

Also, the likes of Eric Choupo-Moting, Franck Etoundi all failed to step into the shoes of Samuel Eto’o as the Lions could only manage to score two goals.

On his part, Clinton Njie baptized by fans as “The Magic Boy”, The New Eto’o, was however deprived of the chance to prove he was the man ready to step into Eto’o’s shoes. Simply put, Eto’o is the Indomitable Lions legend.