A few days before a crucial double confrontation against Algeria, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon are working with their new coach Rigobert Song. The latter must build a new team.
This Wednesday, the new coach of Cameroon, Rigobert Song, announced the list of 27 players who are part of the group which will play the two play-off matches of the 2022 World Cup. From next Monday, the Indomitable Lions will begin their training camp , four days before the reception of Algeria at the Japoma stadium.
A trap appointment for the former Galatasaray and Liverpool player. Especially since Rigobert Song is expected at the turn: the president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), Samuel Eto'o, has pushed hard to replace Conceição at the head of the Indomitable Lions, against the advice of Narcisse Mouelle Kombi , the Cameroonian Minister of Sports who announced the extension of the Portuguese coach.
A pitched battle between Eto'o and Kombi which had relegated the sporting aspect to the background. However, facing the Fennecs, the Cameroonians are playing their near future. A non-qualification would indeed be catastrophic for the Indomitable Lions, after an African Cup of Nations (CAN) played at home.
To prepare for the double confrontation against Algeria, the new Cameroon coach has decided to rely on his players playing abroad. The only player playing in the Cameroonian championship, the young Patient Wassou Goue, barely 18 years old, will be an exception. The Coton Sport striker from Garoua has joined the group.
Against Algeria, it will be quits or double
Rigobert Song had to make strong decisions. What he did not hesitate to do by dismissing two players who nevertheless seemed to have a place of choice in the group: Christian Bassogog and Clinton Njie. As for Fabrice Ondoa, he is not part of the list of goalkeepers retained. Besides the young Patient Wassou Goue, Rigobert Song can count on Olivier Ntcham and Jeando Fuchs.
But preparing for the future is not easy in the current context. Samuel Eto'o has indeed appointed his ex-teammate not at the start of a new cycle but a few weeks before the double confrontation against Algeria.
A challenge for Rigobert Song who has little experience on the sidelines. The former youth coach will be able to rely on the Frenchman Sébastien Migné. The disciple of Claude Le Roy knows African football well and will bring his skills to Song.
Now, two options are available to Rigobert Song. The first would be a qualification for the World Cup, against Algeria. In this case, he will have eight months to work, with friendly matches. It would be a feat. The second option is elimination. And there, Rigobert Song will then be able to begin his new cycle. He will have to renew a workforce which, despite rather positive results in recent months, does not really shine.
In any case, in a week, the Cameroonian players will have to be ready. Rigobert Song will have to work on the tactical aspect, but also psychologically.