After two years at the head of the Indomitable Lions as the Manager, Rigobert Song, has been sacked due to poor performance.

In a release issued by the sports minister, Song was advised that at the end of his deal on 29 February 2024, his contract will not be renewed.

Song helped qualify the Lions for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after beating Algeria and also helped the country’s national team to qualify for the 2023 AfCON in Côte d’Ivoire but the national team’s performance at both events was dismal at best.

Song will therefore be unemployed as from tomorrow 29 February 2024. However he has a talent for dancing and a penchant for fashion. He can deploy his efforts and talents to dancing and fashion to keep himself busy.

See press release issued by the country’s ministry of sports.

By Haggai Fung Achuo in Yaounde

Samuel Eto’o, at the helm of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fécafoot), will find himself with limited options regarding the appointment of the next coach for the Indomitable Lions.

According to Jeune Afrique, the absolute control wielded by the head of Cameroonian football in 2022, during which he chose Rigobert Song as coach despite the contrary opinion of the Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, will no longer be in place.

At that time, the minister had preferred to retain Toni Conceição, the Portuguese coach, whose dismissal would have cost Fécafoot a minimum of 1.6 million euros. With no word from their superior, it seems unlikely that Song and his team will be retained beyond the end of their contract, which ends on February 28th. “We are leaning more towards a departure. However, it is necessary to await official confirmation,” revealed a Fécafoot representative to Jeune Afrique. After the failed negotiations with the former coach of Gambia, Tom Saintfiet, it is strongly considered that an interim coach will take place on the bench during the March international break, according to the media. The ambition is to appoint a competent coach in time to prepare the Indomitable Lions for the third and fourth rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.

“It’s the presidency that will have the final say”

“This time, it is President Paul Biya who will have the final say in the choice of the new coach,” confirms Jeune Afrique, citing sources close to Fécafoot and the Ministry of Sports. The selection of the future coach will follow a rigorous protocol. “A call for applications will be launched, and the CVs submitted to Fécafoot will be evaluated by a technical committee, which will establish a shortlist of probably three candidates. They will then be interviewed. The final decision will rest with the presidency, as was the case before. ‘The one who finances has the final say, it’s logical.

This doesn’t mean that Samuel Eto’o cannot support a candidate, but he will not be the one making the final decision,’” explains a source quoted by the magazine. According to Jeune Afrique, the disappointing performances of the Indomitable Lions and various scandals affecting Fécafoot’s reputation are detrimental to Samuel Eto’o. “The state is fully aware of the federation’s precarious financial situation, which needs to settle compensation for Toni Conceição and his team. Payment to some suppliers is suspended, and the conflict with the French equipment manufacturer Le Coq Sportif could prove costly,” divulges a source. “Thus, it is conceivable that the state will intervene to support Fécafoot, at least in part, in the face of these problems,” adds the source.

Source: Afrique Sports

Cameroonian football icon, Samuel Eto’o, is going through tough times. His tenure at FECAFOOT since 2021, aimed at reviving and enhancing the image of football in his country, has been marred by one setback after another. The latest blow has hit hard.

As often said, being a great footballer doesn’t automatically translate into being a competent leader. While this hypothesis is frequently confirmed among football coaches, it’s also proving to be the case with Samuel Eto’o in Cameroon. A true African living legend, now 42 years old, Eto’o has represented Cameroon globally with honor. With remarkable achievements in his football career, notably with FC Barcelona in Spain, Inter Milan in Italy, and Chelsea in England, the former striker is struggling in his role as a leader at the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

Elected amidst wild scenarios in December 2021, Samuel Eto’o was heralded as the “Messi” who would uplift Cameroonian football from the doldrums. With an enticing project and wonderful ideas, the Yaoundé-born native seemed destined for success. However, after some initial promising moments, things began to crumble at FECAFOOT with internal defections or dismissals causing friction. Known for his strong personality, Eto’o doesn’t shy away from making bold decisions, regardless of others’ opinions.

With his tough approach and clashes with local football figures and even former “rebel” Lion Indomptables executives, Eto’o has accumulated many enemies over his two years in management. Today, whether it’s Geremi Njitap calling out FIFA or CAF to intervene or Joseph Antoine Bell, among others, criticizing the state of affairs, discontent is rife. Speaking of the national team, it’s another sore point that adds to Eto’o’s woes.

In the face of Rigobert Song’s inability to steer the Lions Indomptables to success, whom Eto’o had chosen to lead, the FECAFOOT president finds himself under heavy criticism. After the 2023 AFCON held in Ivory Coast, President Paul Biya broke his silence to condemn the football federation president and his underperforming coach. As promised, the veteran head of state decided to intervene regarding Eto’o’s role.

“The state, in our difficult context, makes significant financial sacrifices in this regard (football). It is therefore entitled to demand better organization and results. We will ensure this,” stated Paul Biya in a national address, as reported by Africafootunited, concluding with, “The Government and particularly the Ministry responsible for sports have received clear instructions on the matter.”

This latest humiliation for Eto’o sees FECAFOOT sidelined from the process of reviving Cameroonian football, particularly in selecting a new coach. It’s a clear message to Eto’o that despite his grand entrance and apparent presidential blessing, he’s being ousted from a significant decision-making process.

On one hand, it’s a significant admission by Cameroonian leaders regarding FECAFOOT’s resounding failure. After orchestrating his resignation, which was ultimately rejected by the executive committee members, perhaps it’s time for Eto’o to gracefully step aside, permanently, to salvage what little “honor” remains. At this rate, things aren’t likely to improve anytime soon, and it remains uncertain how the CAF and FIFA will respond to numerous complaints about the Cameroonian football icon.

Source: Afrique Sports

Rigobert Song doesn’t want to see his image deteriorate. Accusations of false coaching diplomas made in a sports program on the Canal 2 International channel. The Indomitable Lions coach hit back in a press release, announcing that he would be taking the matter to court.

“Indeed, during the aforementioned program, entitled ‘Lions Indomptables: comment faire pour rebondir? ‘, Pinon Omgba, brandishing an obviously fabricated pseudo-coaching diploma, the beneficiary of which would be a certain ‘Bahanag Rigobert’, together with Awona Théophile, are going to label Mr. Song Bahanag Rigobert, a leading figure in Cameroonian soccer, as a forger, who, according to them, holds ‘a false document’,” reads the statement.

Source: Sports News Africa

36 year-old Kenyan athlete by name Charles Kipsang, participant at the 29th edition of the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, collapsed and dies of heart attack.

Information gathered holds that, Kipsang was transported to the Buea Regional Hospital where he gave up the ghost.

Despite numerous efforts to reanimate him at the Molyko Omnisport stadium failed.

The athlete though looking exhausted after crossing the finish line, showed no signs of ill health.

Charles Kipsang becomes the second Kenyan athlete, to have died within a short time frame.

By Haggai Fung Achuo

The 29th edition of Mount Cameroon Race, Africa’s oldest international athletic competition, kicked off early Saturday in Southwest, one of the two English-speaking regions of the country torn by a separatist armed conflict.

Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, who presided at the opening ceremony, said tight security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of the athletes.

“We are assuring them (athletes) that everything will be fine. Their security and safety is assured,” Kombi told reporters.

Reporters covering the race saw multiple police and army checkpoints and military helicopters flying low in Buea, the chief town of the Southwest region where the race is taking place.

Cameroon elite forces, Rapid Intervention Battalion, have been deployed to the neighborhoods of the town.

Separatist fighters who have been active in the region since 2017 have threatened to disrupt the annual event.

Last year, at least 18 people were injured after blasts went off in three locations just a few minutes after the race began.

The race is unfolding under the theme “Give peace a chance”.

About 600 from Congo, Ethiopia, France, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Tanzania, Chad, Tunisia and Cameroon are taking part in the competition.

The race, dubbed Race of Hope, is of a particularly difficult terrain, with athletes going up and down the mountain, which is over 4,100 meters above sea level.

Source: Xinhuanet

Cameroon has deployed additional troops to the country’s war-torn English-speaking region of Southwest to ensure security of Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, Africa’s oldest international athletic competition, an official said on Friday.

“The local people are proud of this event and they want it to be successful. The forces of law and order have been deployed everywhere,” the region’s governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai told reporters in Buea, chief town of the region where the race will take place on Saturday.

“We must remain vigilant, denounce all the suspected individuals who will be hanging around,” he added.

Residents said that police and military patrols have intensified in the town since Monday.

Separatist fighters who are active in the region since 2017 have threatened to disrupt the annual event.

Last year, blasts went off in three locations just a few minutes after the race began.

About 600 athletes from four continents will take part in the competition, according to organizers.

Source: Xinhuanet

Former Cameroon, Portugal and European Cup-winning Porto coach Artur Jorge has died aged 78, his family announced on Thursday.

Jorge led Porto to their maiden continental trophy with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the 1987 European Cup final in Vienna.

He also won seven Portuguese league titles, four as a player with Benfica and three as Porto boss, before leading Paris Saint-Germain to their second French top-flight triumph in 1994.

“It is with deep sadness that the family of Artur Jorge Braga de Melo Teixeira announces his death this morning in Lisbon following a long illness,” his family said in a statement reported by Portuguese media.

Jorge, who came through the Porto youth system but only played a handful of games for the senior team, first became head coach of the club in 1984.

He left following the European Cup triumph but returned for a second spell in 1989, winning a third league title at the helm.

“His death leaves Porto FC without a legend,” said the club in a statement.

Jorge had two stints in charge of the Portuguese national team, firstly from 1990-1991 while also Porto coach, and again from 1996-1997.

He was Switzerland boss for Euro 1996 and also coached the Cameroon national side but failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.

Jorge will be fondly remembered in Paris, having led PSG to league and French Cup trophies after also enjoying a two-year stint in charge of Racing Paris.

“Artur Jorge is the greatest coach I have known,” said former PSG president Michel Denisot.

“Educated, cultured, passionate, strategic, uncompromising… with him PSG grew very quickly.”

As a striker, he scored more 100 goals for Benfica as they won four league titles in five years in the early 1970s.

Source: Supersports