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Eto'o hopes the past does not return to haunt him

Cameroon superstar Samuel Eto'o will hope the past does not return to haunt him in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final against Tunisia today.

Two years ago in Egypt the Barcelona striker scored five goals in the group phase before the "Indomitable Lions" lost a marathon penalty shootout against Ivory Coast.

It was the second consecutive quarter-final exit for Cameroon, who have won the biennial tournament four times.

Fast forward to this year and Eto'o once again completed the three-match mini-league phase with five goals, lifting his overall tally to 16 and making him the leading all-time Cup of Nations scorer.

A couple of the goals this year came from well struck penalties which will surely calm his nerves should the clash with Tunisia be deadlocked after extra time and go to spot kicks.

The quarter-final at the 20,000-seat Tamale Stadium in this northern town may prove the tightest of the four as Cameroon pit stars like Eto'o against the well organized Tunisians.

Although he has moved two goals above Ivorian Laurent Pokou on the all-time list, there is no lack of incentives for Eto'o, who scored twice against Egypt, once against Zambia and twice more against Sudan.

He needs another five from a possible three matches to overtake Mulamba Ndaye of the Democratic Republic of Congo, scorer of nine when his country lifted the 1974 Cup of Nations in Cairo.

And the supreme African soccer predator is also closing on the all-time Cameroon record of 33-goal Patrick Mboma, needing four to draw level with a star of the 2000 Cup of Nations-winning team.

"Samuel is the best striker in the world on his day and always among the top three," said coach Otto Pfister, who was put in charge of the Lions just before the tournament on a US$40,000-a-month contract.

After Cameroon lifted the Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002, on both occasions via shootouts, hosts Tunisia emerged as 2004 champions and five survivors could feature at a Tamale Stadium built for the tournament with Chinese aid.

They are defenders Radhi Jaidi and Karim Hagui, midfielders Jaouher Mnari and Mehdi Nafti and Brazil-born striker Francileudo dos Santos, whose brace set up a crucial pool triumph over South Africa last weekend.

Captain Jaidi did a u-turn, having retired when the "Carthage Eagles" made a tame first round exit from the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

"Tunisian footballers perform as a unit and are mentally strong. We always think positively and concentrate on doing the basics well," he said.
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