Samuel Eto’o confirms Rigobert Song’s departure as Cameroon coach
Rigobert Song has stepped down as Cameroon head coach, according to Samuel Eto’o, the president of the Cameroonian football federation (Fecafoot).
This comes after Cameroon’s disappointing performance at the Africa Cup of Nations, where they were eliminated in the last 16 by Nigeria.
Eto’o stated that the decision to part ways with Song was due to the team’s failure to meet its objectives, and that the executive committee and himself did not see renewing Song’s contract as an option.
“We have not achieved our objectives, and our executive committee and I do not see ourselves renewing the contract (with Song),” Eto’o told France 24.
Song, a former international teammate of Eto’o, was appointed as Cameroon’s boss in February 2022.
Under his leadership, the Indomitable Lions qualified for the Qatar World Cup via a dramatic play-off victory over Algeria in extra time.
However, Cameroon struggled in the tournament itself, exiting in the group stage despite a shock victory over Brazil in their final game.
Eto’o acknowledged Song’s contributions to the team, saying, “Song brought a lot to this team.”
However, he emphasised the need to look towards the future and find a new coach who can help the team achieve success.
During his tenure, Song oversaw 23 matches, winning only six of them. Despite his efforts, Cameroon’s performance under his guidance was deemed insufficient, leading to his departure from the role.
