AFCON 2021: Etoo's "war" statement unfortunate - Queiroz

 

Samuel Eto'o has been heavily criticized by Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz after his motivational speech to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon ahead of the semifinal clash with Egypt on Thursday. (Photo credit: CAF)

"We have one objective, our next [game], it's Thursday, everything you've done, you need to capitalize 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." – FECAFOOT President Samuel Eto’o.

Egypt head coach Carlos Queiroz has berated four-time Africa player of the year Samuel Eto’o for his “war” statement while he was motivating the Indomitable Lions ahead of their semifinal clash on Thursday in Olembe stadium, Cameroon.

The two countries will square up in the stadium just ten days after seven lives were lost and scores of others badly injured in a stampede that happened at the same venue minutes before Cameroon beat a nine-man Comoros in a round of 16 clash.

Queiroz described Eto’o statement as “unfortunate” while speaking to newsmen at his pre-match conference on Tuesday.

"It's an unfortunate comment and a very bad message to the people of Cameroon," Queiroz said. "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 Cameroon football federation said on Monday that the Indomitable Lions will donate their match winning bonuses to the victims of the stampede at the Olembe stadium, a gesture that Queiroz found laudable as against the talks of war.