By Felix Tih
Yaounde, Cameroon (Cameroon Report) – Rigobert Song, a former Cameroon player has been named head coach of the Central African country’s football team, the Indomitable Lions.
The African Football legend was named as replacement of Portuguese Coach Antonio Conceicao who led Cameroon to a third-place finish at the 2021 TotalEnergies AFCON.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Song said “the Indomitable Lions jersey gave me everything. I am grateful. I am honored to have been chosen to guide the Indomitable Lions.”
The 45-year-old promised to give his best as he did as a “player and captain” of the Indomitable Lions. “Thank you all for your messages of congratulations and encouragement.”
“My staff and I need the support and prayers of millions of Cameroonians to write a new page in the mythical history of the Indomitable Lions. All behind the #IndomitableLions.”
- Complete New Staff:
Head coach: Rigobert Song
Deputy coach: Sébastien Migné
Team Manager: Raymond Kalla
Second deputy coach: Augustine Simo
Goalkeepers Trainer: Souleymanou Hamidou
Fitness coach: Fevre Raphaël
Video Analyst: Baltaze David
- Song as a player and coach
As a player, Song usually played as a center back but could also operate at right-back.
Internationally, he played at a record eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and served as captain in five, and holds the record of most consecutive games played in the tournament with 35 first-team games.
He won two CAF Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002.
In 2009, Song was dropped as Cameroon skipper by new coach Paul Le Guen, who eventually appointed Samuel Eto’o as the new captain but later caused concerns as Song had never been on the bench in more than 11 years for Cameroon.
With 137 appearances, Song also holds the record of the most capped player in the history of the Cameroon national team and has played in four World Cups, in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2010.
Song started his professional career at Metz. He made several strong appearances that earned him a selection to The Indomitable Lions for the World Cup in 1994.
He later played for Liverpool (1998–2000), West Ham, Köln and Lens (2000–2004), Galatasaray (2004–2008), and Trabzonspor (2008–2010)
In February 2016, Song was appointed as manager of the Cameroon A’ team, which is composed of players based in Cameroon.
Following his hospitalization for a brain aneurysm and subsequent recovery, Song resumed coaching duties in 2017, ahead of the qualification stage of the 2018 African Nations Championship.
He led the team into the tournament, which saw Cameroon finish bottom of their group after two losses and a draw.
In April 2018, Song was one of 77 applicants for the vacant Cameroon national team job. He assumed the role on a caretaker basis later in the year.
In Oct. 2018, FECAFOOT announced that Song would take control of the Cameroon U-23 national football team for the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations campaign.
