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This is one of the first acts of authority by Samuel Eto’o, at the head of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) since December 11, 2021. After having worked behind the scenes to dismiss Portuguese coach Antonio Conceiçao, the he former international player weighed in for Rigobert Song to be appointed coach of the Indomitable Lions at the end of February. A risky technical change, as Cameroon prepare for a double confrontation with Algeria for a place in the final phase of the World Cup in Qatar. The two teams are due to meet on Friday March 25 in Douala, before the return match on March 29 in Blida, Algeria. It is therefore the end of Toni Conceiçao, who had not allowed Cameroon to win the African Cup of Nations (CAN) played at home: the country had been beaten by Egypt in the semi-finals on February 3 .
Rigobert Song, who held the position of under-23 coach, had also supported the candidacy of his former teammate Eto’o when he was campaigning for the presidency of Cameroonian football. His promotion is perceived by the detractors of the new boss of Fecafoot as “an elevator return”. However, it does not surprise Pierre Lechantre, the former coach of Cameroon (1999-2001): “Eto’o has always respected Song, whose state of mind he appreciates. He is a great competitor, a leader of men capable of transcending you. »
Along with Patrick Mboma, Raymond Kalla or Marc-Vivien Foé, who died in 2003, Rigobert Song – who was also captain of the Indomitable Lions – was one of the most listened to players, on and off the field. Arrived in Europe in 1994, the ex-defender trained at “Tonnerre” in Yaoundé, has 137 caps and two participations in the CAN in 2000 and 2002, on the Lions bench. “He had real legitimacy, his career spoke for him and, despite his status, he does not have an excessive ego. On the field, he did not hesitate to put us back in place very frankly if he felt that we were getting out of our match., remembers the former Cameroonian goalkeeper Carlos Kameni. He is also one of only three players from Africa to have played in four World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010), notably alongside his ex-teammate Samuel Eto’o.
“Explosive atmosphere”
Tough with his opponents, the Cameroonian defender, renowned for his sometimes excessive physical commitment, also knew how to be verbal with his partners. “But without ever crossing the limits”says Lechantre.
The former leader of the Indomitable Lions has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to adapt to events, such as during a trip to Tripoli in June 2001, to face Libya in qualifying for the World Cup. At half-time, as Libyan fans riddled the walls of the Cameroonian locker room with projectiles with the sole aim of intimidating the reigning African champions, “He used the situation to motivate the players even more, and we won 3-0 in an explosive atmosphere”restores Lechantre.
From Lens, Gervais Martel, the historic president of the Sang et Or (1988-2012 and 2013-2017), is not surprised by the promotion of his former player: “Song coach, I’m not surprised, because in addition to his qualities as a leader, he had this interest in technical work. » When Lens recruited him in 2002, Song was very quickly promoted to captain. “He came from England, had played for Liverpool and he immediately established himself as the boss. He is a natural leader. During a match in Lille, when we had played the whole second period with nine against eleven, he had not stopped motivating his teammates, and we had drawn.continues the former leader.
In Cameroon, even if his appointment for two years has raised some questions, in particular because of his mixed results at the head of the under-23s and the A’ selection he previously led, Rigobert Song enjoys a a priori rather favorable. Victim of a serious cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in October 2016 which had plunged him into a coma, “the charismatic dinosaur” – as his supporters nicknamed him – has already promised “to give as much as a coach as as a player. » It remains to be seen, as confided by a former international who wished to remain anonymous, “if Eto’o will not exceed his function as president to interfere too closely in tactical and technical questions”.