- Cameroon have parted ways with Toni Conceicao
- Song’s first assignment will be the World Cup qualifier against Algeria
- Former Harambee Stars coach Sebastien Migne is his assistant
New Cameroon football Federation boss Samuel Eto’o has appointed his former skipper and teammate Rigobert Song as the new head coach of the national team with immediate effect.
Song, 45, will come in as a replacement for Portuguese tactician Antonio Conceicao who has been fired after Cameroon finished third at the Africa Cup of Nations last month.
“The Cameroon Football Federation informs the public and the football family about the end of it’s contract with Antonio Conceicao. The future orientation of the national team necessitates a new orientation,” a release from president Samuel Eto’o Fils’ office stated.
Song who skippered Cameroon to the 2000 and 2002 AFCON successes will be assisted by former Harambee Stars head coach Sebastian Migne as the first deputy while former international, Simo Augustine will be second deputy.
Migne coached Kenya in 2019, leading the country to qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt for the first time since 2015. He was however fired from the role after failing to guide Kenya to the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) after a loss to Tanzania.
Former Kenya coach Sebastien Migne
He then moved on to Equatorial Guinea, but was also fired in 2020. He later returned to club football, coaching South African side Marumo Gallants.
However, a run in with the club’s executives saw him relieved from his role.
He has now bounced into another coaching job, to deputize Song in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, other appointments include;
Raymond Kalla who played alongside Song in the heart of the Indomitable Lions defense for years, has been handed the role of team manager, while another ex-international Souleymanou Hamidou takes over as goalkeeper trainer.
Fevre Raphaël and Baltaze David join the team as fitness coach and video analyst respectively.
Song has previously served as team manager of the Indomitable Lions, after which he was appointed coach of the Under-23 team.
Rigobert Song during his playing days with Cameroon
Before his appointment as the new senior team tactician, he was in charge of Cameroon’s Olympic team, from October 2018 alongside Simo and Kalla in the same roles.
Song who featured at four FIFA World Cups and seven Africa Cup of Nations tournament, will face his first challenge with the Indomitable Lions, when they clash against Algeria in the final round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The former West Ham United and Liverpool center-back had a glittering international career recording 137 caps for Cameroon.
The work is cut out for him especially with the demands that come with the job and his legendary status in danger.
However, Song is said to be in high spirits and ready for the job. Images of him dancing and celebrating his appointment have been awash on social media and the Cameroonian public is waiting with bated breath for his performances.
Cameroon were under pressure to change their coaching team despite finishing third in the AFCON they hosted. The feeling among majority was that the team did not perform to its level best and they needed fresh ideas to try and revitalize the team.
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