Eto'o has decided to favour country over club

Spanish side Real Mallorca have asked for Fifa to intervene after their Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o failed to appear at training this week.

Eto'o failed to show because of a call-up by the Indomitable Lions for an Olympic Games qualifier in the Ivory Coast.

Cameroon won the gold medal in the 2000 Olympic Games, but face a tough qualifying tie for Athens 2004 in Abidjan on January 4.

Eto'o has been called up to help the defending champions through the challenge.

However, Mallorca issued a statement on their website saying they had not given the player permission to play in the game.

According to Mallorca the competition does not feature on the official calendar established by Fifa, world soccer's governing body.

"Real Mallorca have dispatched an urgent request to the Spanish Football Federation asking for the immediate intervention of Fifa with the aim of ensuring that the player rejoins the club as soon as possible," the club said.

"Mallorca understand that this situation has arisen because of an irregular action on the part of the Cameroon Football Federation."

Eto'o is Mallorca's leading scorer this season with eight goals and has attracted attention from clubs throughout Europe.

He is one of five on the shortlist for Caf's 2003 African player of the year award.

Other African players have been in trouble with their clubs this year after Olympic qualifiers clashed with club games.