Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o mystified by Bafana's AFCON struggles

The legendary striker, now the president of the Cameroon Football Federation, visited South Africa, sharing his insights on the underperformance of Bafana in the continental tournament.

Eto'o, a four-time African Player of the Year, questioned the lack of success for Bafana since their triumphant AFCON campaign on home soil in 1996. Despite subsequent runner-up and bronze medal finishes in 1998 and 2000, respectively, South Africa have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in recent editions.

Expressing his perplexity during an interview with AFP, Eto'o emphasized the need for strategic planning to elevate Bafana's status in African football. "I am baffled as to why Bafana Bafana have constantly underperformed at the Cup of Nations," he stated, urging football officials to devise a comprehensive plan to transform the team into the best in Africa.

Eto'o acknowledged the potential within South Africa, pointing to the strength of the national league as a key factor that could contribute to Bafana's resurgence. He called for a concerted effort to harness this potential and elevate the team to new heights on the continental stage.

"Football officials need to sit down and plan how to take Bafana to another level and make it the best national team in Africa. Given the strength of the national league, that is possible," Eto'o asserted, emphasizing the importance of a strategic approach to maximize the talent pool within the country.

As Bafana prepare for their opening match against Mali on Tuesday, a team that has previously bested them in AFCON clashes, Eto'o's words echo a call for transformation within South African football. The challenge now lies in translating these insights into actionable plans, steering Bafana towards a brighter future in African football.

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