Egypt coach Queiroz rebukes Eto’o, urges CAF to take action against Cameroon football chief

Egypt manager Carlos Queiroz has said Cameroon federation president Samuel Eto’o was out of line with his comments that urged the Africa Cup of Nations hosts to prepare for “war” against Egypt ahead of semifinal meeting on Thursday.

In a video shared by the team’s media outlet FECAFOOT TV following Cameroon’s 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Gambia, Eto’o is shown speaking to the squad ahead of the semifinal as they look to reach the final for the first time since 2017.

“We have one objective, our next [game], it’s Thursday,” Eto’o said. “Everything you’ve done, you need to capitalise on it. Prepare yours, because it will be a war, my guys, a war.

“That’s how you have to get fired up for this one, a war.”

Eto’o won two AFCON trophies and an Olympic gold medal with the Indomitable Lions, as well as several club titles with Barcelona.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Queiroz said the comments by Eto’o were “unfortunate.”

“It’s an unfortunate comment and a very bad message to the people of Cameroon,” Queiroz said, as quoted by ESPN. “I think he forgot that Cameroonian people died at the stadium several days ago, and so making this declaration of war before one game shows that he learned nothing from his time in professional football.

“It was a very, very unfortunate comment, because football is not about war, it’s about celebration, joy and happiness.

“We are going to answer to war with football, we’re going to answer football with joy,” he continued. “We’re here to please the people, not to make people die, but to give them fun and some joy.”

The former Real Madrid head coach also urged CAF to take action against Eto’o.

“There are people who are starving whose only moment of happiness is when their team wins a match,” Queiroz continued. “So to challenge the Cameroon team to come and play war against us is something I have to leave to CAF, because one comment like this is a red card.

“War is to protect people who die in the doors of the stadiums, people who don’t have food to eat, that is war.”

The two teams will square off at the Olembe Stadium on Thursday, only 10 days after eight people lost their lives and 38 were injured during a stampede outside of the venue.