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 Ghana which kicks off on Jan. 20.
Abdouraman, who claimed there was no deal with Barcelona,
said Pfister needed Eto'o in training to be able to make a final
squad selection by the Jan. 10 deadline.
Eto'o was the only member of a 28-man shortlist not to have
confirmed his attendance at a training camp in Burkina Faso and
Abdouraman called on Barcelona to release the player by Tuesday.
Abdouraman said Barcelona contacted the CFF last month to
request Eto'o remained with the Spanish club until Jan. 16, but
Pfister replied that this was impossible because of the
essential role the striker plays in the squad.
Barcelona were also reminded of FIFA rules for continental
championships stating clubs must release players two weeks
before the start of the tournament, Abdouraman said.
'But, surprisingly, last Saturday night we received a
message instead from Barca's medical doctor, not the club
management as expected, stating that releasing Eto'o would
jeopardise his re-education after a prolonged period of absence
from the pitch due to a knee injury,' said Abdouraman.
Eto'o returned to action for Barcelona last month after a
long-term injury that required surgery.
Four-times Nations Cup winners Cameroon are in Group C with
Egypt, Sudan and Zambia. The Indomitable Lions play their first
game against Egypt on Jan. 22.
