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RIGOBERT SONG "The coach": qualification and track record!

Following a legendary national team career and a respectable club career , Rigobert Song obtained a football coaching diploma from the prestigious Clairefontaine in France, in 2012, alongside the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele, among others.

EXPERIENCE WITH CAMEROON

In 2012, the ex-captain was named Team Manager of the Indomitable Lions – a role which gave him baby steps in management as was seen in characteristic shout-outs to the players from the bench.

Following Cameroon's dismal performance at the 2014 World Cup, the managerial staff of the national team was reshuffled, and Song lost his position in the process.

That was followed by rumours of a negotiation with Chad which never saw the light of day.

Then-president of FECAFOOT, Tombi A Roko Sidiki , offered Rigobert Song his first contract as coach in 2016, putting him in charge of the home-based selection in replacement of Martin Ndtoungou Mpile who had just crashed out of the quarterfinals of CHAN 2016.

CHAN 2018 – First Tournament Experience:

There was a lot of excitement heading into the 2018 Africa Nations Championship. Fair to say, the team fought hard in the image of a charismatic Song on the touchline.

The excitement was, however, short-lived. In a group with Congo, Angola and Burkina Faso, Cameroon could only obtain a single point, finishing bottom and crashing out with a goal difference of minus 2.

Song would be replaced at the end of the tournament and appointed coach of the under-23 team.

Under-23 AFCON 2019:

Rigobert Song's most impressive stint has got to be with the Olympic Lions. He led them to a first-ever participation at the U-23 AFCON.

In a tough group alongside Egypt, Ghana and Mali, Song's Baby Lions registered 4 points in 3 games, and only crashed out in the group stages on goal difference.

This was an honourable display regarding the prevailing circumstances. "We cannot be coming to an international tournament like this and start regrouping players just one week to the start," Song lamented following the painful exit. Further revealing the difficult working conditions, local media, notably La R***e du Patriote Hebdo, later revealed Rigobert Song had gone for 11 months without a salary.

As coach, Rigobert Song has not been as productive as one would expect, but given the context in which he has been working, he can be tagged encouraging. Left to be seen if that is enough to take him a step higher!

Ade Divine