Cameroon`s Eto`o to miss Inter game at Chievo

Milan: Samuel Eto`o will miss Inter Milan`s Serie A game at Chievo on Wednesday after the Italian champions failed to persuade Cameroon to let the striker join their squad late for the African Nations Cup.

Eto`o will meet up with Cameroon as planned on Jan. 4, Inter said on their website on Friday.Inter coach Jose Mourinho had wanted Eto`o to be available for the match at Chievo given Cameroon`s first match in the tournament in Angola is not until Jan. 13 against Gabon. The Serie A leaders are now likely to try to wrap up the signing of Macedonia striker Goran Pandev in time for Wednesday`s game having let reserve striker David Suazo join Genoa on loan despite Eto`o`s impending month-long absence. Pandev, who came through the youth ranks at Inter and has said he is close to returning to the San Siro, is a free agent after leaving Lazio following a contract dispute.Eto`o will remain with Inter for a friendly in Riyadh against Al Hilal on Saturday, meaning he will not be present at former club Barcelona`s parade of the six trophies they won in 2009. "I was pleased to receive an invite from my ex-team mates but obviously tomorrow I can`t be there because I have to be here with Inter," said Eto`o, who joined Inter from Barca in a swap deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in July. Bureau Report