ISRAEL: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Barcelona and Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o says African team can win World Cup

Record ID: 398145

  • Title: ISRAEL: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Barcelona and Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o says African team can win World Cup
  • Date: 25th May 2006
  • Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (MAY 24, 2006) SOURCE: REUTERS SAMUEL ETO'O AT SPECIAL SOCCER CLINIC FOR ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CHILDREN SPONSORED BY PERES CENTRE FOR PEACE - GROUP FOUNDED BY ISRAEL'S ELDER STAESMAN SHIMON PERES TO BUILD BRIDGES BETWEEN DIVIDED COMMUNITIES ETO'O SPINNING BALL, STANDING WITH OTHERS AUDIENCE ETO'O WITH CHILDREN ON PITCH PLAYING WITH BALL, POSING FOR CAM
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3P4Y7N5AC4TJN0HJK1EM5SF4M
  • Story Text: Barcelona and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o said on Wednesday (May 24) that an African team could go on to win the World Cup in Germany this summer.
    Despite the absence of African heavyweights Nigeria and Cameroon at next month's competition, Eto'o said there was plenty of potential in the African teams that have qualified - Ghana, Angola, Tunisia and Ivory Coast.
    "I think all the African teams that are there are there for a reason. They have the means to live their dreams and go all the way. But they need to believe," Eto'o told Reuters Television during a visit to Israel to promote a joint Israeli-Arab youth soccer initiative aimed at bringing the divided communities together.
    "Because of their potential, I think everyone is putting their hopes in the Ivory Coast," said Eto'o, singling out their defence for special mention.
    During Barcelona's victory over Arsenal in last week's Champion's League final, Eto'o said he was impressed by Arsenal's young Ivorian defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue - despite giving the latter the slip to score Barcelona's first goal.
    "They are very good. They are playing at an international level already - among the best," he said.
    Eto'o said that he was looking forward to another big season at Barcelona although he was sorry his friend Thierry Henry had decided to stay at Arsenal despite strong suggestions of a move to the Catalan club. "If Titi decided to stay at Arsenal its because he's a man who thinks with his heart and he was thinking about the fans," he said.
    Eto'o said he was disappointed that he was not going to the World Cup with Cameroon, particularly after Barcelona's sensational season.
    "I think that everything I have done with the club is not compatible with the fact that I am not going to the World Cup. As I always say I am a believer - and I say this is God's will. One must accept all his decisions - which are good, sometimes very good, and not so good at other times. These things hurt but you have to accept them," he said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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