President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o has confirmed the departure of Rigobert Song as Cameroon head coach.
Song led the Indomitable Lions to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast where they bowed out in the round of 16 after a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria.
Eto’o disclosed that the FECAFOOT has opted not to extend Song’s stay at the helm of the national team after his contract expired at the end of AFCON 2023.
The former Liverpool defender was appointed the Indomitable Lions coach in 2022 after guiding the Cameroon’s U23 national team between 2018 and 2022, and the home-based team from 2016 to 2018.
Song ensured Camerooon’s qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and he helped the Central African country win their first game in the competition since 2002 with a 1-0 win against Brazil.
Eto’o, on Wednesday, said the 47-year-old coach who doubles as his former teammate in the Cameroon national team (1997-2010) did not meet FECAFOOT’s targets
“He has brought a lot to this team but the laws of football being what they are… We have not achieved our objectives, and our executive committee and I do not see ourselves renewing the contract,” Eto’o told France 24.
“I had the opportunity to discuss it with him. I have given our positions and now we must think about the future, while wishing him every success in his future career.
“Allow me to pay a vibrant tribute to Rigobert Song who was my captain in the national team.”
Song joins the growing list of coaches to be dismissed after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast.
Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Egypt, the Gambia, Tanzania, Ghana and Tunisia are countries who have made decisions to change coaches after the tournament.
