YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Former captain Rigobert Song was named Cameroon’s new coach on Tuesday rather than Toni Conceicao simply three weeks earlier than a vital World Cup playoff.
Song earned 137 caps for Cameroon throughout a global profession spanning virtually 17 years, competing at 4 World Cups and eight Africa Cup of Nations finals.
He performed membership soccer in England at Liverpool and West Ham United, and likewise had stints in France, Germany, Italy and Turkey. The 45-year-old has been serving as coach of Cameroon’s under-23 crew.
Conceicao led Cameroon to 3rd place on the Africa Cup of Nations finals final month however the Portuguese-born coach has been informed his contract is not going to be renewed.
“The upcoming assignments for our national team require a new orientation and a new breath,” mentioned Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) President Samuel Eto’o in an announcement.
A separate assertion from Fecafoot didn’t give particulars of Song’s time period of contract however mentioned, “Rigobert Song and his team don’t have time to pop the champagne corks as their first big challenge is in a few weeks”.
Cameroon host Algeria in Yaounde on March 25 after which play a return sport in Blida on March 29 with the winner of the playoff tie qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
