The Cameroon legend Roger Milla has said that he is convinced that the new manager of the national team – Jean-Paul Akono – will be able to convince the star striker Samuel Eto’o to come back from the international retirement.
The 31-year-old striker recently announced his retirement from international football after growing tired of the problems with the Cameroon football Federation. Samuel Eto’o is widely regarded to be the best African player, while he is also thought by some as the best strikers during his peak. He has won every major trophy with both Inter Milan and Barcelona including three Champions League titles.
Roger Milla has said that it is paramount that Cameroon try to get Samuel Eto’o into the national team if they are to be successful in reaching the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Even though he was not convinced that the previous manager will be able to persuade Samuel Eto’o to return to international football, Jean-Paul Akono is capable of achieving this feat. The 31-year-old is currently playing with the Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, and he has been voted as the African player of the year for a record four times. If he is persuaded, he could play against Cape Verde in the second leg.
“I know Jean-Paul Akono very well because we played together in the national team and worked as a team to train the Cameroon military football team. He is very hard-working and enjoys my full support. He has the ability to change the face of the national team by bringing back all valuable players including key striker Samuel Eto’o, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Jean Makoun,” said the 60-year-old former Cameroon international striker Roger Milla. Roger Milla was part of the first Cameroon team that reached the final of the FIFA World Cup back in 1990.