Eto’o targets all-time scoring record

CAMEROON star striker Samuel Eto’o has said he wants to be the all-time top scorer of the Africa Cup of Nations after he tied a 14-goal record held by the Ivorian star Laurent Pokou at the weekend.

“I’m really happy I have got my name into the African football record books, it was a proud moment to tie the record held by a legend like Pokou, but I also want to beat the scoring record in my next game,” said Eto’o, who has so far netted three goals at this tournament. The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon tackle bottom team Sudan in Tamale tomorrow in their final Group C match.The Barcelona forward matched Pokou’s record, which has stood for 38 years, when he scored in the 65th minute from the penalty spot in Saturday’s game against Zambia after Billy Mwanza had handled his free kick inside the box.It was a fitting milestone for a proven goal scorer, who has spent most of this season on the sidelines due to a thigh injury he suffered in September at his Spanish club.Pokou scored his 14 goals at two Nations Cups, in 1968 and 1970, while Eto’o made his in five tournaments beginning with his goal against the Ivory Coast at the 2000 edition which was jointly hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.Nigeria striker Rashidi Yekini managed a total of 13 goals in this tournament, Egypt’s Hassan El-Shazly netted 12 goals while Patrick Mboma of Cameroon and the Egyptian Hossam Hassan have scored 11 goals.”Eto’o is a great talent and deserves all that he has got in this game,” said Roger Milla, Eto’o’s childhood hero, who recorded a total of seven goals in the competition.Eto’o is the man for the record books.In 2006, he became the first player to win the CAF African Footballer of the Year for a record three years running on the back of stirring displays for both club and country.He scored four goals in 2000 as the Indomitable Lions beat Nigeria on penalties in Lagos to win the Unity Cup.Eto’o is now only six goals short of the 33 goals his one-time strike partner Patrick Mboma has scored in a national team shirt to instal him as that country’s all-time highest goal scorer at that level.Mohamed Zidan’s performances for Egypt in the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, including his two goals in the opening game against Cameroon, are in sharp contrast to his club form back home in Hamburg.Zidan has made just six Bundesliga starts and seven substitute appearances for SV Hamburg following his summer move from relegated Mainz 05 at the end of last season.The striker, who cost Hamburg in the region of $6.5 million, (about N$45 million) has also managed just one goal in that time.”It certainly isn’t going as I had hoped,” said Zidan.”I haven’t been given the chances I need to show what I can do.Most of the time, I only play for a couple of minutes.”But Zidan said he understood Hamburg coach Huub Stevens’s position.”The team is playing very well and we are third.Obviously you shouldn’t change that much.”Not surprisingly, Zidan is delighted with being able to finally start some games and feels the tournament is helping his game.”It’s a big tournament and I am coming closer to my targets.I want to become the best footballer in the world.”The 26-year-old from Port Said says that, for the time being, he is happy at Hamburg and wants to continue the fight to establish himself in the first team.”I want to make the breakthrough,” he said.”I work hard and give my all.But I don’t know how long I can live with my role as a reserve.I also don’t want to spend the next 10 years in Hamburg.At some stage I want to play in a bigger league.”Zidan’s next chance to impress comes tomorrow when the Pharoahs take on Zambia in their final group game.Nampa -Reuters-DPAThe Indomitable Lions of Cameroon tackle bottom team Sudan in Tamale tomorrow in their final Group C match.The Barcelona forward matched Pokou’s record, which has stood for 38 years, when he scored in the 65th minute from the penalty spot in Saturday’s game against Zambia after Billy Mwanza had handled his free kick inside the box.It was a fitting milestone for a proven goal scorer, who has spent most of this season on the sidelines due to a thigh injury he suffered in September at his Spanish club.Pokou scored his 14 goals at two Nations Cups, in 1968 and 1970, while Eto’o made his in five tournaments beginning with his goal against the Ivory Coast at the 2000 edition which was jointly hosted by Ghana and Nigeria.Nigeria striker Rashidi Yekini managed a total of 13 goals in this tournament, Egypt’s Hassan El-Shazly netted 12 goals while Patrick Mboma of Cameroon and the Egyptian Hossam Hassan have scored 11 goals.”Eto’o is a great talent and deserves all that he has got in this game,” said Roger Milla, Eto’o’s childhood hero, who recorded a total of seven goals in the competition.Eto’o is the man for the record books.In 2006, he became the first player to win the CAF African Footballer of the Year for a record three years running on the back of stirring displays for both club and country.He scored four goals in 2000 as the Indomitable Lions beat Nigeria on penalties in Lagos to win the Unity Cup.Eto’o is now only six goals short of the 33 goals his one-time strike partner Patrick Mboma has scored in a national team shirt to instal him as that country’s all-time highest goal scorer at that level.Mohamed Zidan’s performances for Egypt in the MTN Africa Cup of Nations, including his two goals in the opening game against Cameroon, are in sharp contrast to his club form back home in Hamburg.Zidan has made just six Bundesliga starts and seven substitute appearances for SV Hamburg following his summer move from relegated Mainz 05 at the end of last season.The striker, who cost Hamburg in the region of $6.5 million, (about N$45 million) has also managed just one goal in that time.”It certainly isn’t going as I had hoped,” said Zidan.”I haven’t been given the chances I need to show what I can do.Most of the time, I only play for a couple of minutes.”But Zidan said he understood Hamburg coach Huub Stevens’s position.”The team is playing very well and we are third.Obviously you shouldn’t change that much.”Not surprisingly, Zidan is delighted with being able to finally start some games and feels the tournament is helping his game.”It’s a big tournament and I am coming closer to my targets.I want to become the best footballer in the world.”The 26-year-old from Port Said says that, for the time being, he is happy at Hamburg and wants to continue the fight to establish himself in the first team.”I want to make the breakthrough,” he said.”I work hard and give my all.But I don’t know how long I can live with my role as a reserve.I also don’t want to spend the next 10 years in Hamburg.At some stage I want to play in a bigger league.”Zidan’s next chance to impress comes tomorrow when the Pharoahs take on Zambia in their final group game.Nampa -Reuters-DPA