Despite the enthusiasm after the arrival of Samuel Eto'o at the head of Fécafoot, the mayonnaise does not take and Cameroonian football is no longer advancing.
La African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2022 was to revive the Indomitable Lions. But two years after the competition, the results are disastrous to say the least. At the head of the Cameroonian selection, Rigobert Song have won only three of their last twelve matches. Last defeat to date: against Namibia, 2 goals to 1. Something to stain, while the Indomitable Lions are aiming for qualification for the next CAN. The match against Burundi, next September, is likely to be a cutthroat.
After an elimination in the first round of its own CAN and while the Cameroonian selection is floundering, where is the problem? Especially since it's not much better for women or even for young people. A failure for Samuel Eto'o, who promised a revolution when he took over the presidency of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot).
Admittedly, the project that awaited the ex-star of the Indomitable Lions was long-term. Eto'o particularly wanted develop training to no longer depend on players playing in Europe. But in the meantime, it is Rigobert Song who questions. The coach seems unstoppable, despite the negative results of his team.
What solutions?
Finally, can a national federation be managed, well, by a former footballer? Eto'o was a superstar on the football pitch, but will he be able to manage his federation, in economic and development terms? His showdown with Le Coq sportif shows to what extent there is a world between rhetoric and deeds.
As RFI indicates, Samuel Eto'o seems aware of the problem: he summoned the coaches of the national teams last Thursday. “It was a question of making an evaluation of the course of the various national selections. What didn't work. How can we do better? “Summarizes Engelbert Mbarga, Deputy National Technical Director at FECAFOOT. It emerged from this meeting that “a platform for collaboration between the national breeders and the National Technical Department for all questions relating to the planning technique, that is to say the preparation of the lists”, was set up.
But that shouldn't improve the athletic performance of the Indomitable Lions. Other avenues have been put forward, such as the establishment of longer internships. In the meantime, the holes must be filled. And hope that the Indomitable Lions will regain their aggressiveness to qualify for the next CAN. Because in case of failure, it would be difficult to get up...