8, September 2018
Yaounde gambling on Seedorf amid African coaching changes 0
Former Netherlands star Clarence Seedorf is among more than a dozen coaches who will make Africa Cup of Nations debuts this weekend in 2019 qualifiers.
Despite underperforming in three previous managerial posts, the 42-year-old has been given a four-year contract by reigning African champions Cameroon.
His first match in charge of the ‘Indomitable Lions’ is away to minnows Comoros in Group B on Saturday.
Cameroon are guaranteed a place in the expanded 24-team 2019 Cup of Nations as hosts, but were included in the qualifying competition to give them match practice.
Vastly experienced and widely travelled Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson had been favourite for the Cameroon post after 2017 Cup of Nations-winning coach Hugo Broos was sacked.
Having masterminded a surprise fifth African title, Belgian Broos did not deliver at the 2017 Confederations Cup and failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup was the final straw.
Seedorf got the nod, with fellow former Dutch star Patrick Kluivert as his assistant, having had brief, unsuccessful spells at AC Milan, Shenzhen and Deportivo la Coruna as manager.
“I feel honoured to be given the opportunity to manage this great country,” Seedorf said when appointed.
The big test for the former Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder will come next June when Cameroon host the biennial African football showpiece.
Only another title will satisfy Cameroonian officials and supporters as the country stages the tournament for the first time since 1972, when it was a mere eight-nation event.
Egypt have appointed Mexican Javier Aguirre, a 59-year-old who has coached his homeland and Japan as well as several Spanish clubs, including Atletico Madrid.
He succeeds Hector Cuper, the Argentine not offered a contract extension after the ‘Pharaohs’ flopped at the World Cup, losing all three group matches.
His first assignment is at home to modest Niger and the main issue would appear to be how many goals Mohamed Salah-inspired Egypt win by.
Aguirre got the job ahead of Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, who took Algeria to the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup before quitting over what he considered hostile media coverage.
“I am really honoured to be here,” the Mexican said when introduced to the media. “It is my first job in Africa and a big challenge.”
Cuper was often criticised for overly defensive tactics and much attention will now centre on whether Aguirre opts for a more adventurous approach.
While many of the new coaches are non-Africans, Tanzanian officials tired of a lack of delivery by numerous Europeans have signed former Nigeria star Emmanuel Amuneke.
Amuneke scored the goals that gave Nigeria the 1994 Cup of Nations title and played for Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon.
After coaching success with Nigeria at age-limit level, Tanzania hope he can lift them out of mediocrity with their only previous Cup of Nations appearance 38 years ago.
The Ivory Coast are rebuilding after age caught up with “golden generation” stars like Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Kolo Toure.
Belgian Marc Wilmots disappointed as coach of the ‘Elephants’, failing to qualify for this year’s World Cup and losing at home to Guinea in a 2019 Cup of Nations eliminator.
His successor is local Ibrahim Kamara, who plans a pragmatic “counterattacking” system to stabilise the team and achieve results, starting in Rwanda this Sunday.
AFP
9, September 2018
Seedorf makes shaky start with Indomitable Lions 0
Cameroon coach Clarence Seedorf made a shaky start to his tenure as Indomitable Lions coach as his team rescue a draw against Comoros Island in their African Cup of Nations qualifier yesterday. Stephane Bahoken netted an 80th-minute equaliser to save Cameroon from a humiliating defeat. The reigning African champions, who are currently set to host next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, fell behind in the 15th minute when El-Fardou Ben Mohamed opened the scoring.
The Red Star Belgrade forward put the hosts into an unlikely lead following some excellent work out wide from Lorient’s Faiz Selemani, who evaded his marker with some fine footwork before swinging in a cross for Ben Mohamed to slam a left-footed effort past Andre Onana at his near post. On a synthetic pitch, in front of a buoyant home support at the Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh in Mitsamiouli, Cameroon laboured for an equaliser against opponents ranked 149th in the world.
However, Angers striker Bahoken netted an equaliser 10 minutes from time after Comoran captain Nadjim Abdou misjudged his clearing header, allowing the 26-year-old to net his first international goal from close range. The win leaves Cameroon, who have automatically qualified for the AFCON but still compete in qualifying Group B, atop the pool with four points from their opening two fixtures. Ex-AC Milan and Deportivo La Coruna coach Seedorf was appointed as Hugo Broos’s long-term successor on August 6. Since winning the AFCON title in February 2017, Cameroon struggled at the Confederations Cup and then failed to reach the 2018 World Cup.
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