Arsenal's Alex Song has not been sacked from Cameroon team - media officer
The midfielder has reportedly had a falling out with captain Samuel Eto'o but an injury that some thought had been fabricated to avoid international duty has been verified
Arsenal midfielder Alex Song remains a member of the Cameroon national team amid rumours the player had been kicked out of the team after he fell out with captain Samuel Eto’o yesterday in a Yaoundé hotel.
Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) media officer Junior Binyam told Goal.com the 23-year-old was only relieved from preparations for the Cameroon-Senegal clash after an injury picked up during a club match was confirmed by the Indomitable Lions' medics.
“Many felt Alex Song was using a fake injury to snub the invitation to camp for Senegal match, but a verification of the medical report by our medical staff confirmed the player’s injury,” Binyam said.
“He was therefore allowed to leave while the rest of the team continues preparation. He was never sacked from the Lions’ outfit like some rumours have had it.”
State TV Crtv reported on Wednesday that Eto’o did not show up for the day’s training session because he had an altercation with Song at the players’ hotel, which prompted Sports Minister Michel Zoah to hold a brief meeting with both.
Nothing filtered out of the meeting, but Binyam says existing differences between the players have been ironed out, allaying fears that the tensions might jeopardise the Lions’ preparations for Saturday’s match, dubbed as do or die for Cameroon.
Both teams are meeting for the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifying fourth round game. Senegal humbled Cameroon 1-0 in their first meeting in Dakar last March to top Group E with nine points, while Cameroon and DR Congo are tied on four points.