Thus, the former defender star will take over from Portuguese Antonio Conceicao. The decision can be officially announced on Wednesday, February 23.
Will Rigobert Song Pahang be the new coach of the Indomitable Lions? It is, according to our information, the will of Samuel Eto’o, President of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot). But the latter asked the executive committee of the authority for an additional three days, and planned to make the official announcement on Wednesday, February 23.
The indomitable Lions captain who could thus become the new head coach of Cameroon had previously coached the under-23 national team, which he led to the African Nations Championship in 2018. The former defender will replace Portugal’s Antonio Conceicao, coach since 2019, at This position, the contract of this technician was renewed last September, but the mixed performance of the Cameroon team in the African Cup of Nations, which finished third, decided his fate.
Arm wrestling with Narcisse Moel Combi
On February 13, a week after the end of the competition held in Cameroon, the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Moel Kombe, announced his intention to leave the reins of the Portuguese national team. And within sight, in particular, is the Algeria match scheduled for March 23, which counts towards qualifying for the World Cup to be held in Qatar next November and December.
Rigobert Song is doomed to prove himself too fast
The Fecafoot Chief, however, had a different opinion. On February 14, in a letter to the Minister in charge of the Federation, Samuel Eto’o indicated that, in accordance with the provisions in force, “the administrative, sports and technical management of football teams fall under the jurisdiction of Fecafoot”. Therefore, “thinking about maintaining or terminating the contract of the national team coach” [était] processing “.
Supported in his approach by the Federation Executive Committee, which met on February 16 in Limbe, in the southwest, Eto’o took action. If his appointment is confirmed, Rigobert Song will be condemned to prove himself very quickly, with the immediate goal of qualifying the Indomitable Lions for the 2022 World Cup.
Reconciliation Ito Song
The former international, now 45, has written some of the most memorable pages in the history of Cameroonian football. The record holder in the number of selections within the national team (137), he wore the country’s colors during four World Cups and eight African Nations Championships (CAN). He twice participated in the team that brought the cup to Yaounde (2000 and 2002).
Song trained at Braseries de Cameron Football School (SABC) and Toneret Yaounde, and also played for Salernitana (Italy), Liverpool, West Ham (England), Cologne (Germany), Galatasaray and Trabzonspor (Turkey). He ended his football career in 2010.
A consultant for the Orange Channel, then became a coach and CEO at Fecafoot. A stroke in 2016 forced him to retire for some time, but he was able to resume his activities two years later.
While the two men wore the colors of Cameroon, relations between Rigobert Song and Samuel Eto’o were at times strained. The first noticeably lost its captain’s badge in favor of the second, in 2009.
Since then, the two former internationals have buried the hatchet. Last August, Rigobert Song had publicly supported Samuel Eto’o in his campaign to conquer Fecafoot. After Eto’o’s election, Song hailed “a new era of hope and great promise” for Cameroonian football.
