The absence of the football legend Samuel Eto has been a huge loss to Africa Cup of Nations says Captain of the Indomitable Lions team. Cameroon Captain Stephane Mbia has admitted that the absence of Samuel Eto'o from this year's Africa Cup of Nations was a blow for the whole continent.

"He is a great player. Certain people didn't like the way he was but he is a good guy. He will be hugely missed as a person," said Mbia of Eto'o, who has just moved to Sampdoria in Italy after a brief stop at Everton after retiring from international football following last year's World Cup in Brazil.

"I think he could have continued but he decided to stop and it was disappointing for Africa as a whole and Cameroon too, to lose a great player like Samuel Eto'o."

The four-time African player of the year, now 33, has enjoyed a glittering career, winning the UEFA Champions League three times and forming part of the Cameroon sides that lifted the Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002.

Cameroon, known as the Indomitable Lions, have not won the continental title since, coming closest in 2008 when they were beaten by Egypt in the final.