He is only 25 and already has a special place in Bulgarian football. James Eto'o, an attacking midfielder born 19 November 2000, has established himself at CSKA Sofia after a notable spell at Botev Plovdiv, where he first arrived in 2021. Since his 2024 transfer, he has logged 68 matches across all competitions, scoring five goals and providing 19 assists — a performance that convinced the club to extend his contract until June 2029.
On the pitch he has also built a reputation as a big‑game player: he scored the decisive penalty to qualify CSKA Sofia against Qarabag in the Europa League, then netted the winning spot‑kick in a Bulgarian Cup final won by his side.
His story with the Indomitable Lions is more troubled. His first call‑up came for a friendly against Uganda in 2025. But his second encounter with the national shirt, in March 2026, turned absurd: summoned for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Eswatini, he left his Cameroonian passport behind in Bulgaria and was turned away by border police at Johannesburg airport. He could not join the squad, which had to travel the remaining 347 kilometres to Nelspruit by night‑time bus — a match that eventually ended in a goalless draw (0‑0).
Since then he has received no further call‑ups. Coach David Pagou, installed at the helm of the Lions by Samuel Eto'o two weeks before the AFCON to bet on renewal and youth, has yet to recall the CSKA Sofia midfielder. Form‑wise, nothing seems to hold him back: consistent club performances, a senior role, a contract running to 2029. The question remains whether the forgotten‑passport episode has left a mark, or if his next chance is simply a matter of timing.
