Samuel Eto’o to officiate the 2019 CAF Awards ceremony in recognition for his role and contribution to the growth of Africa football.
The top scorers in the history of the African Cups of Nations (AFCON) will be the host of the “2019 CAF Awards” ceremony. The ceremony
is scheduled for January 7, in the city of Hurghada in Egypt.
One of the big stars of the 2019 Africa Awards, which will reward the best football players on the African continent, will be Samuel Éto’o
Fils. The former captain of the team of indomitable lions of Cameroon will hold the microphone to present the said event.
The Cameroonian is certainly following in the footsteps of the Ivorian Didier Drogba. The latter, it should be noted, brilliantly presented the
award ceremony of the 2019 European Ballon d’Or organized by France Football magazine.
But Samuel Éto’o Fils will not be the only one who will raise the flag of Cameroon at this ceremony. Indeed, for the year 2019 of the “CAF
Awards”, Cameroon is in the running in three categories: Nchout Njoya Ajara (26) is in the running for the title of best player in Africa; Alain
Djeumfa, the coach of the Lionesses is nominated in the category of best female football coach and finally the female football team in the
eponymous category. Here are some of the nominees:
African player of the year
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
Brief about Samuel Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o Fils born 10 March 1981 is a Cameroonian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. In his prime, Eto’o was
regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world, and he is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, winning
the African Player of the Year a record four times: in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010.
A precocious talent, Eto’o moved to Real Madrid as a 16 year old. Due to competition in his position with more experienced players, he had
several loan spells, before signing for Mallorca in 2000 where he scored 70 goals. His impressive form saw him join Barcelona in 2004
where he scored 130 goals in five seasons and also became the record holder for the most number of appearances by an African player
in La Liga. Winning La Liga three times, he was a key member of the Barcelona attack, alongside Ronaldinho, that won the 2006 UEFA
Champions League Final, with Eto’o scoring in the final, and was part of a front three of Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry that won the 2009
UEFA Champions League Final, with Eto’o again scoring in the final. He is the second player in history to score in two UEFA Champions
League finals. At Barcelona, Eto’o came in third for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005 and was twice named in the FIFA FIFPro
World XI, in 2005 and 2006.
By Subiru M.
