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Africa News of Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Source: punchng.com

Football legend Samuel Eto’o clocks 40

The legendary and retired footballer, Samuel Eto’o The legendary and retired footballer, Samuel Eto’o

The legendary and retired footballer, Samuel Eto’o, clocked 40 on Wednesday.

The ex-Cameroon captain is considered one of the greatest African footballers of all time, having won the “African Player of the Year” award four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010 (the most by any player and an honour he shares with the Ivorian, Yaya Touré).

Eto’o first came to national prominence while playing for UCB Douala, a second-division club, in the 1996 Cup of Cameroon. At only 16 years of age, he caught the attention of Real Madrid, who signed him in 1997, though Eto’o saw little playing time.

Eto’o would make his name playing for Cameroon during the 2000 African Cup of Nations, where he scored four times, including a crucial goal against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

In an expansive career that saw him play for FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Chelsea, among others, Eto’o scored 427 goals, and won 2 African Cup of Nations, 1 Olympic Gold medal, 3 Champions League trophies, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 3 La Liga titles, 2 Spanish Cup, 2 Spanish Super Cup, 1 Serie A titles, 2 Italian Cup, and 1 Italian Super Cup.