Brazil 2014. Will an Eto’o Miss against Croatia help or hinder Lions?

After their dismal performance on Friday June 13 2014 in Natal, The Lions might likely miss the services of their best team scorer and captain Samuel Eto’o Fils because of injury.

Samuel Eto’o revealed this on his facebook page with this posting; “The doctors confirm! I will probably not be able to play the match against Croatia on Wednesday, 18th of June at the Arena de Amazonia of Manaus. So Unfortunate! An injury on my knee causes me a lot of pain. But do not worry about it. I have an unconditional trust in each of our Lions. We are going to have a wonderful match. I pray for it! We must stay strong and united for the team…We stay and remain together! Go Indomitable Lions.

Though the Mexicans policed Eto’o closely last Friday, it was evident he was not in top form because of the same injury. Reports say he took part in only two of the more than five training sessions.

Fans poke fun at poor performance of

Pundits however think his absence might give a chance to the other strikers including Achille Webo, Fabrice Olinga and Benjamin Moukandjo to rise to the occasion and start assuming the role Samuel Eto’o 33 will vacate soon. From all indications, Eto’o Fils will probably not be playing competitive football in four years time if Cameroon qualifies for the next world cup. Football authorities are also not happy with his militant stand in support of the payment of players bonuses that delayed the flight of the team to Brazil last week and will like

Since their Mexico debacle on Friday, fans have taken to twitter and social media to mock the underperformance of the Lions. Various hashtags have been created including #bringBackOurMoney to #bringbackthelions. Most posts blame everybody from the coach to the underperforming team that handed Mexico its first ever win against an African team in fifteen world cup participations.

Ghana and Nigeria play their matches today with hopes they could match Ivory Coast win in their opening matches and help at least one African team to qualify for the second round of the competitions. Nigeria will clash against Iran at 16.00hrs in a group F match at the Arena Da Baizada in Curitiba while Ghana face off against the USA in a group G match at the Estadios Das Dunas in Natal. Germany plays against Portugal in the first and toughest  match of the day in a Group G match at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

Nigeria and Ghana will hopefully match Ivory Coast Saturday June 14 2014 defeat against Japan, the first African victory in the competitions.