African sides are going to make history and dominate the World Cup in Qatar with Cameroon beating Morocco in the final, according to Samuel Eto’o.
The first Middle Eastern World Cup will start in Doha on November 20 and run for five weeks before the final takes place on December 18. African sides have been regular fixtures at previous tournaments, but no team from the continent has ever made it to the latter stages.
Only three African teams have ever made it to the quarter-finals – Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002) and Ghana (2010) – but none have made it to the last four. Eto’o, a legendary striker for Barcelona and Inter Milan, played at four World Cups for Cameroon and he is backing the Indomitable Lions for glory at the Lusail Stadium next month.
Eto'o told ESPN : “Africa has always had the potential to achieve a successful World Cup, but we haven't always shown our best face up to now.
“During the years, African teams have acquired more and more experience, and I think they're ready not only to participate in a World Cup, but also to win it. Cameroon will win the World Cup final against Morocco.”
Eto’o scored 56 goals in 118 games for Cameroon from 1997 to 2014 and is now the president of the country’s football federation. He has unflinching belief in his side, who are ranked 43rd in the world by FIFA and finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations in February after being beaten on penalties in the semi-final by Egypt.
There will be five African sides at the World Cup, with Morocco and Cameroon competing alongside Tunisia, Senegal and Ghana. If Eto’o’s tips are to come good then Morocco, who are ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, will have to get out of Group F, which also contains Belgium, Croatia and Canada. Cameroon are in Group G with Brazil, Serbia and Switzerland.
According to Eto’o, Morocco will knock out heavyweights Spain, Portugal and holders France while Cameroon will beat Belgium and Senegal in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively to progress.
"It would be a dream come true [to win the title]," Eto'o said. "For any player, winning titles is the ultimate goal. "As president of our federation, I would love to see Cameroon win the World Cup."
Eto’o thinks that Cameroon should take inspiration from the Inter Milan side he played in. Inter overcame the odds to beat Barcelona and Bayern Munich to win the 2010 Champions League under Jose Mourinho.
"I don't see why we can't win," he told FIFA. "I believe that to win the World Cup you don't need to be monsters or aliens, you just need good preparation, a strong mentality, and a pinch of madness.”
Unsurprisingly, bookmakers do not agree with Eto’o. They make Brazil favourites ahead of Argentina, France and England. Cameroon and Morocco are valued at 250/1, with only Iran, Australia, Tunisia, Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia priced at longer odds.
