AFCON 2019: African legend Samuel Eto’o praises Uganda Cranes performance

AFCON 2019: African legend Samuel Eto’o praises Uganda Cranes performance
Samuel Eto'o Fils, Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Qatar SC

Four-time African Player of the Year Award winner and ex-Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has praised Uganda Cranes performance at the on-going 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Cranes are the only team from the Council for East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) region that have qualified for the last 16 stage in the tournament. The likes of Kenya, Tanzania and Burundi all failed to go past the group stage.

Eto’o told this publication on Wednesday that he is impressed with Uganda’s style of play and maturity on the pitch.

“The Ugandan team has really improved and I like the way they work together as a team,” added the former star.

He however noted that they need to start utilizing the many chances they create. “In football the goals matter a lot and now they are going to the knock out stage where goals will surely count,” noted Eto’o.

The former Cameroon international said he is impressed with the level of football at the tournament where some teams that have not played at the tournament before like Madagascar have made it to the knock out stage.

Eto’o is among the seven legends selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as ambassadors for the 2019 AFCON.

Read Also: AFCON 2019: Uganda is a difficult side to play – Senegal coach Cisse

The others are; Mahmoud El Khateeb (Egypt), Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba (Both Cote d’Ivoire), Rabah Madjer (Algeria), Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria) and El Hadji Diouf (Senegal).

Eto’o is the leading all-time scorer in the Nations Cup with 18 goals and he appeared at four World Cup finals – 1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014 – playing in eight matches and scoring three goals.

Cameroon’s all-time leading scorer with 54-goals, won back-to-back Africa Cup of nations titles with his country at the 2000 and 2002 editions.

URN