Samuel Eto'o slammed for "very bad message" as AFCON returns to site of tragic stampede

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o has been heavily criticised by Egypt 's manager for his incendiary remarks ahead of their Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.

Host nation Cameroon will face off with Egypt on Thursday night and the victor will set up a final with Senegal, who booked their spot thanks to a Sadio Mane-inspired 3-1 victory over Burkina Faso.

Mane's Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah has also been in fine form and chipped in with a goal and an assist as Egypt overcame Morocco in extra time in the quarter-finals.

Cameroon, meanwhile, made light work of Gambia to reach the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory last Saturday.

After the match, Eto'o delivered a speech to the dressing room in which he could be heard comparing the last-four clash with Egypt to "war".

The footage was shared on the Facebook page of the Cameroon Football Federation, of which Eto'o was elected president last December.

The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea striker won two AFCON titles during his glittering career and many view him as the continent's greatest ever player.

But Egypt boss Carlos Queiroz is less than impressed by his attempts to fire-up the Cameroon players with what he views as insensitive and inappropriate language.

"It's a very unfortunate comment, a very bad approach, a very bad message to the people of Cameroon," Queiroz said, per BBC Sport.

"To make this declaration of war before one game [shows he] didn't learn anything when he was in professional football.

"Football is not about war. Football is about celebration, it's about joy, it's about happiness."

The tournament is being played against a tragic backdrop after eight people were killed and dozens injured during a stampede ahead of Cameroon's encounter with