Former star defender of the "Indomitable Lions" Rigobert Song was named the new coach of the Cameroon football team on Monday, succeeding Portuguese Toni Conceiçao, the Minister of Sports announced in a press release.
"On very high instructions from the President of the Republic, the coach of the national men's football team, Mr. Antonio Conceiçao" is replaced by Rigobert Song, declared Narcisse Mouelle Kombi.
The "Indomitable Lions" finished in early February in third place in the African Cup of Nations organized by Cameroon, after being eliminated by Egypt on penalties in the semi-finals.
Rigobert Song's first mission will be to try to obtain against Algeria in less than a month a qualifying ticket for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“The Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) is invited to take the necessary measures for a rapid and harmonious implementation of these very high directives, in order to allow the Indomitable Lions to face, in the best possible conditions, the important sporting events. future,” the statement continued.
World Cup play-offs next month
"The upcoming deadlines for our national team require new directions and a new lease of life," said FECAFOOT president, star Samuel Eto'o, in a statement.
Rigobert Song, former defender of the Cameroonian selection, victim of a stroke in 2016, cut his teeth as a technician on the bench of the Cameroonian selection A', which he led at the 2018 African Nations Championship, before to lead the Cameroonian Espoirs selection.
Now 45, the former defender trained at Tonnerre Yaoundé made a name for himself in Europe by wearing the colors of Metz in the French championship (1994-1998) before a stint in Italy, at La Salernitana, then in England (Liverpool, West Ham), in Germany (Cologne) and in France again, in Lens.
He then moved to Turkey, under the jerseys of Galatasaray then Trabzonspor, where he ended his playing career in 2010.
The ex-international with the inimitable blond mane wore the Indomitable Lions jersey 137 times (4 goals) between 1993 and 2010, playing in four World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010) and the African Cup of Nations. nations eight times, with two titles in 2000 and 2002.
He inherits an ambitious and talented Cameroonian selection, which failed on penalties against Egypt in the semi-finals of "his" CAN.
His first challenge will be to try to qualify Cameroon for the World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18), on condition of eliminating Algeria at the end of March during the Africa zone play-offs.
