Rigobert Song named new boss of Cameroon on President Biya’s orders
Legendary Indomitable Lions defender Rigobert Song has been named as new head coach of the Cameroon national team, replacing Toni Conceicao, on the orders of the country’s president, Paul Biya, the sports minister said on Monday.
Conceicao who led Cameroon into the World cup qualification play-offs before superintending over a third-placed finish at the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil last month.
Sports minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said Cameroonian President Biya has ordered the national football federation to give the job to ex-Liverpool defender Rigobert Song.
Kombi in a statement made available to the public said “On very high instructions from the President of the Republic, the coach of the men’s national football team, Mr Antonio Conceicao, has been replaced by Rigobert Song,”
“The Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) is invited to take the necessary measures for a rapid and harmonious implementation of these very high directives.”
On their part, Fecafoot has confirmed “the end of the contract” of Conceicao easing the path for the appointment of Rigobert Song who enjoyed many successful years as a player.
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Song’s immediate challenge is how to pilot Cameroon past 2019 African champions Algeria in a two-legged play-off for a place at the World Cup in Qatar later this year. The playoff will hold on March 25 and 29 2022.
With a well traveled and successful CV following stints in England, France, Italy, Germany and Turkey during his club career, Song is the Indomitable Lions’ all-time leading appearance maker with 137 having played in four World Cups and won the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations titles.