Samuel Eto blames Africans for Sadio Mane losing the Ballon d’Or to Lionel Messi

Cameroon and Barcelona legend Samuel Eto has blamed Saido Mane’s loss of 2019 Ballon d’Or title on African countries.

Saido Mane who potentially could be the 2019 winner finished outside the outside the top three as Lionel Messi won the award for a record 6th time.

Saido Mane alongside Mo Salah joined Lionel Messi, Van Dijk and Cristiano Ronaldo in the final five.

After playing a key role in helping Liverpool claim the 2019 Champions League and second place finish in the league, Samuel Eto who believes his African brother would have won, if other Africans supported him.

“Messi won because all the South Americans voted for him. I think the Europeans also voted for Virgil Van Dijk hence he was the runner-up.

“Africans didn’t vote for Mane. That’s the big problem. African people have problems with other African people.

“We, as Africans, are letting ourselves down. We need to unite if we are serious about ending the dominance of the Europeans and the South Americans in the race to be crowned the best players in the world.”

Liberia’s George Weah is the only and last African to win the title when he did in 1995.