Rigobert Song steps down as Cameroon head coach

Rigobert Song is no longer the head coach of the Cameroon national team. The news was  confirmed yesterday by Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot).

This decision comes on the heels of Cameroon’s disappointing campaign at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they suffered an early exit in the round of 16, falling to Nigeria.

Explaining the rationale behind Song’s departure, Eto’o cited the team’s failure to achieve its predetermined objectives. He emphasized that neither the executive committee nor himself saw extending Song’s contract as a viable option.

“We have not met our objectives, and our executive committee and I have decided against renewing the contract (with Song),” Eto’o stated in an interview with France 24.

Song, who previously represented Cameroon alongside Eto’o, assumed the role of head coach in February 2022.

During his tenure, the Indomitable Lions secured qualification for the upcoming Qatar World Cup with a thrilling playoff victory over Algeria in extra time.

However, despite a notable victory against Brazil in their final group stage match, Cameroon struggled to make an impact in the tournament, failing to progress beyond the group stage.

While acknowledging Song’s contributions, Eto’o remarked, “Song brought a lot to this team.” Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of looking ahead and appointing a new coach capable of leading the team to success.

During his time at the helm, Rigobert Song oversaw 23 matches, managing to win just six of them. Despite his efforts, Cameroon’s performance under his leadership fell short of expectations, leading to his resignation from the role.

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