Eto’o’s Son Omitted From Cameroon’s U-17 Line Up

Coach Libiih Thomas says he’s helpless and can’t reverse a presidential decree that has blocked legend Eto’o’s son from starring for Cameroon’s U-17s.

In 2014, the Central African country’s head of State Paul Biya gazetted a decree allowing only home-grown players to feature in the country’s U-15s and U-17s.

The situation meant legend Eto’o’s son, Etienne, who has dual nationality, is automatically disqualified from the selection in Coach Libiih Thomas’ cadet side bound to participate in the Fifa U-17 World Cup in Brazil.

Etienne was even invited for a trial with Cameroon, leaving a lasting impression on coaches there but the Real Mallorca starlet was dropped.

Libiih had even written to the FA seeking they push for a reversal of the decision without success.

“Who I’m I to change a presidential decree? I’m just a little coach. I cannot go beyond the Head of State. I did not sign this decree.”

“If the people talk about it that means that there is a real problem, so I have to address my hierarchy. That’s what I had to do and I’m waiting. If I do not have the exact answer, I would do exactly what I think,” Thomas said in the latest interview.

The trimming of Eto’o’s son from the U-17 provisional squad became headline news last week with sticks thrown at Paul Biya for his decree criticised as “archaic”.