Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o, who recently retired from football, has shot back at those accusing him of obstructing Joel Matip return to the Indomitable Lions.
“I have nothing to do with Matip’s refusal to come back to the team (Cameroon). They should stop blaming me,” Eto’o told French radio RFI on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Liverpool centre-back last played for Cameroon national team in 2014. He declined a call up for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, which the Lions won in Gabon.
Following his outstanding performance with Liverpool, who are UEFA Champions League holders, Cameroon football federation are rekindling interest in the German born, but local reports suggest Matip could spurn any future invitation due to Eto’o.
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“When Joel Matip joined the team alongside Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, I did my best to help them feel at home. But there are some who feel the national team belong to a group of people. They have managers and do business with some FA officials, sometimes with the involvement of ministers.
“They feature the players they want to sell. That is the real problem. These are the people who don’t want Matip back and not me. These are the same people propagating the reports that Matip isn’t coming because of Eto’o. What did I do?
“I went to meet Matip at Liverpool with his father, for him to return to the Indomitable Lions. People don’t know what they are talking about,” he said.
Cameroon will host the 2021 AFCON.
