False Statement Attributed to Eto’o About Japoma Stadium and Algerian National Team
The Claim
Samuel Eto’o: I won’t say anything about Japoma Stadium, and we’re not here to please anyone or give away presents.
News posted on
Emerging story
Media websites and social media accounts have recently shared a statement attributed to the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation Samuel Eto’o. In the statement, Eto’o was quoted as saying: “I won’t say anything about Japoma Stadium. But I will say to the Algerian or Ivorian teams’ officials that the FIFA president also wanted to change the dates for the tournament but could not; we’re not here to please anyone or give away presents.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s team investigated the claim and found it fake. The statement attributed to Samuel Eto’o is made up; it was not reported in any reliable sports news outlet, nor did Eto’o post the news on any of his official social media accounts.
Based on his official Twitter account, Eto’o did not appear in any press interviews as of late, but he went on some visits and shared news related to the ongoing Afcon 2021 in Cameroon.
The claim was shared following complaints about whether the Japoma Stadium, located in Douala, Cameroon, was fit for the holding of Afcon 2021 matches. The Stadium hosted the match between Côte d'Ivoire and Algeria On Thursday, Jan 20.
Press sources reported that the Algerian Football Federation had asked the Confederation of African Football to hold the match in a stadium other than the Japoma Stadium. However, the tournament’s organizing committee decided to hold the match at Japoma Stadium and not to move the match to another stadium.
This is not the first time that such false statements are attributed to the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation in the context of Afcon 2021. Misbar had previously investigated several rumors related to Samuel Eto’o and the Afcon 2021 in general.
Translated by Ahmed N. A. Almassri
