He is probably the best African football player ever, and his words and opinions are strengthened and embellished with as many as three Champions League trophies. For years, he had been one of the most audacious strikers in the world and had left a significant trace and legacy in La Liga and Serie A. That’s why a newly elected FECAFOOT president knows what’s he talking about when he compares African and European football. Eto’o wins Cameroon football elections”Africans have a lot of talent, Europeans a bit less. But the Europeans have understood something: education. Education is the magic of every success, “he explains in an interview with The Athletic.”In Africa, we don’t know how to educate ourselves and to educate, you have to have patience. What you educate today will bear fruit in 10 years’ time. We don’t have that patience.”On the other hand, in Europe, people don’t stop educating themselves. You go and see someone in France, and they say, ‘I’m going to do a course on this’. But why does he do that when he has a job? Because the people have understood that to improve you have to educate yourself. And that’s what we Africans have to do – educate Africans and not stop. And then we will have the chance to win the World Cup.Eto’o fires a buzzer-beater to snatch prodigious Moukoko from the German national team”If others have done it, if I could do it, I don’t see why an African country will not win a World Cup. It’s even one of the easiest things to do. It’s just a couple of football matches. Why would that be impossible? Despite all the difficulties that nations can go through during games, it’s not impossible.”Eto’o thinks there is a crippling lack of proper coaching and training. Moreover, Ghana have won the Under-20 World Cup and finished as its runners-up twice, while Nigeria have reached two finals. Mali, Senegal, Morocco and Egypt have all reached the semi-finals. That competition’s Golden Ball has been won by African players three times. So where’s the problem then…##EDITORS_CHOICE##”Take one example. Today, when Africa plays in the youth categories, we are a lot stronger because naturally, physically, we are gifted with other things. But seeing that the Europeans and the rest of the world continue, for them it’s an educational programme, when they turn 18 they become a lot stronger because they have educated themselves.”As the years go on, what we have naturally diminishes.”15.00: (1.95) HOMEBOYZ (3.30) TALANTA (3.80)Talking about his childhood and many challenges he had to face as a talented player coming from Africa, Eto’o explains…”My life was… I didn’t exist because I didn’t have a tomorrow. I couldn’t see what I could become tomorrow. I didn’t know how I was going to eat tomorrow. I didn’t know if one day I could have a family, have children.”But, thanks to the talent that God has given me, I was able to make history. I could change what I thought was impossible, even inaccessible for millions of Africans. I could change that, “concludes he.
