a écrit le 8 janvier 2008 à 21h44 Cameroon confirm Barca allowed to retain Eto'o
(Recasts with Cameroon federation president quotes)
MADRID, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Barcelona have permission to retain Samuel Eto'o for two more games before the striker joins up with Cameroon for the African Nations Cup, the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (CFF) confirmed on Tuesday.
"There is no problem. The coach (Otto Pfister) has spoken with the player and accepts that he plays this weekend and then joins the squad, having played two more games with Barcelona," Mohammed Iya told Spanish radio station RAC-1.
Iya admitted Pfister had needed convincing but that the German coach had accepted it would help Eto'o improve his physical fitness after having missed most of the season so far with injury.
Iya's comments supported Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard's assertions that the Primera Liga club had written permission to retain the player.
"The important thing for Samuel is to play and the federation and their coach have seen that that is best for them and for us," Rijkaard told a news conference on Tuesday.
Barcelona have included Eto'o in their squad to face Sevilla in the first leg of their King's Cup last-16 tie on Wednesday and expect to field him at home to Real Murcia in the league on Saturday before he hooks up with Cameroon.
CFF spokesman Abdouraman had called on Monday for Eto'o's immediate release to join the Cameroon squad preparing for the tournament in Ghan
(Recasts with Cameroon federation president quotes)
MADRID, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Barcelona have permission to retain Samuel Eto'o for two more games before the striker joins up with Cameroon for the African Nations Cup, the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (CFF) confirmed on Tuesday.
"There is no problem. The coach (Otto Pfister) has spoken with the player and accepts that he plays this weekend and then joins the squad, having played two more games with Barcelona," Mohammed Iya told Spanish radio station RAC-1.
Iya admitted Pfister had needed convincing but that the German coach had accepted it would help Eto'o improve his physical fitness after having missed most of the season so far with injury.
Iya's comments supported Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard's assertions that the Primera Liga club had written permission to retain the player.
"The important thing for Samuel is to play and the federation and their coach have seen that that is best for them and for us," Rijkaard told a news conference on Tuesday.
Barcelona have included Eto'o in their squad to face Sevilla in the first leg of their King's Cup last-16 tie on Wednesday and expect to field him at home to Real Murcia in the league on Saturday before he hooks up with Cameroon.
CFF spokesman Abdouraman had called on Monday for Eto'o's immediate release to join the Cameroon squad preparing for the tournament in Ghan
