It is never an easy thing for a team to lose its best player who has been the mask man, from March 9, 1997 to August 27, 2014.

Such is the plight facing Cameroon at this year’s AFCON after Eto’o’s departure.

The Post takes a look at life without Eto’o as the Lions go in for their first major tourney since 1998 without the veteran striker who has made 118 caps scoring 56 goals making him the highest goal scorer in the country’s history after an illustrious 17-year trophy piled career.

Under Eto’o’s 17 years of reign, Cameroon has participated in four World Cups, seven AFCONs and two FIFA Confederations Cups with Eto’o scoring in at least all the tournaments.

Thanks to the contributions of his goals, Cameroon won two AFCONs (2000 and 2004), 2000 Sidney Summer Olympics, Silver at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup and the LG Cup.

He also emerged top goal scorer in two AFCONs, 2006 (5 goals) and 2008 (5 goals). He also was named the highest goal scorer with 18 goals in 7 participations, 7 goals ahead of 5th place Patrick Mboma with 11 goals.

In his 17 years in the Lions’ den, he scored a total of 56 goals in 118 appearances which makes him the country’s all-time leading goal-scorer with a ratio of 0.47 goals per match (a goal every two matches).

During his time with the Lions, he also won the African Player of the year award four times, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 making him the first person to win it four times.

Eto’o, simply put, is the Indomitable Lions legend. Cameroon After Eto’o

Eto’o’s resignation was a hard pill to swallow for some Cameroon supporters, but to others, life must go on. It is certain that, before him, there was Milla, Mboma, among others, and after him, there will still be others. So far, things seem to be going towards the right direction.

Tipped as Eto’o’s successor is FC Porto’s striker, 22-year-old Vincent Aboubakar, who made his first appearance for the Lions at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as an amateur player playing with Cotton Sport of Garoua.

In him, Cameroonians seem to be forgetting the absence of Eto’o as he has been scoring in almost every game for the Lions. Since making his debut for the Lions in May 29, 2010, he has made a total of 27 appearances, scoring 7 goals.

It should be noted that 6 of his seven goals came after the resignation of Samuel Eto’o.

This shows that in him, Cameroon has a clinical finisher who is quick, strong and intelligent and can rely on for decisive goals. Also, the likes of Eric Choupo-Moting, Franck Etoundi and Clinton Njie Mua might step in the shoes of Samuel Eto’o as the Lions begin life after the legend, Samuel Eto’o.

In all, as Finke and his boys take on Mali in their first AFCON outing in a major tourney without Eto’o, Cameroonians will be expecting this team to make them forget the absence and story of Eto’o.