Eto’o Acquired By Everton But Dropped From Cameroon’s African Cup Qualifier

Cameroon forward and former Chelsea striker Samuel Eto’o (pictured) penned a two-year-contract with Everton, but he reportedly signed as a free agent because Chelsea’s boss Jose Mourinho wouldn’t renew his contract. Until recently, it was thought that Liverpool would sign him, but they opted for Italy’s Mario Balotelli on Monday.

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Eto’o will link up upfront for Everton with former Chelsea forward and Belgian international Romelu Lukaku, who was purchased for £28million earlier this summer.

Eto’o showed his excitement at the new opportunity saying, “I could see straight away that at this club I will have the opportunity to play football. I had the chance to speak with the manager over the last few days and we agreed that this was what we would do.”

Having won the Champion’s league three times, Eto’o, 33, will bring a wealth of experience to this younger looking Everton side.

His new manager, Roberto Martinez, said of the Cameroonian: “I met him and we had a very good chat. I was impressed about the hunger he still has.”

This sentiment, however, is not shared by his Cameroonian German-born coach Volker Finke.

As part of a major overhaul to the Cameroonian team,  Finke dropped 13 players from the squad who went to the World Cup including captain Samuel Eto’o.

Eto’o infamously led a strike over wages that delayed Cameroon’s trip to Brazil in June.

After the disastrous Brazil outing, Finke told BBC Sport, “I think after this World Cup, there was no choice. We have to change. That means we also have to change the spirit of the team. We have to change the mentality of the players.”

The 25-man squad announced by Finke that will face Democratic Republic of Congo on 6 September in Cameroon’s forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are as follows:

Goalkeepers: Pierre Sylvain Abogo (Tonnerre Yaounde), Guy Roland Ndy Assembe (Nancy), Joseph Ondoua (Barcelona)

Defenders: Frank Bagnack (Barcelona), Gaetan Bong (Olympiakos), Cedric Djeugoue (Coton Sport), Jerome Guiahota (Valenciennes), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Nicolas Nkoulou (Olympique de Marseille), Ambroise Oyongo (New York Red Bulls)

Midfielders: Enoh Eyong (Antalyaspor), Marc Kibong Mbamba (Konyaspor), Raoul Cedric Loe (Osasuna), Georges Mandjeck (Kayseri Erciyesspor), Stephane Mbia (Queens Park Rangers), Benjamin Moukandjo (Stade Reims), Landry Nguemo (Girondins Bordeaux), Edgar Salli (Monaco), Guy Christian Zock (Cosmos Bafia)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Lorient), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Schalke 04), Jean Marie Dongou (Barcelona), Frank Etoundi (FC Zurich), Leonard Kwueke (Rizespor), Clinton Njie (Olympique Lyonnaise)

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