World Cup 2022: the challenge of Cameroonian coach Rigobert Song in Qatar
Cameroon Football Federation President Samuel Eto'o hugs Indomitable Lions coach Rigobert Song after Cameroon qualified for the 2022 World Cup. AFP - -
Text by: Farid Achache Follow
4 mins
Rigobert Song will be on the Cameroonian bench, in Qatar.
The one who was considered a "warrior" on the ground during his playing career will he be able to make people forget the fiasco of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil for the Indomitable Lions?
A major challenge for the former defender with 137 selections with Cameroon.
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The life of Rigobert Song is a novel.
His story: that of a kid who didn't know his father and who fell in love with football from an early age.
He finished top of the first promotion of the famous football school of Brasseries du Cameroun.
As a teenager, Rigobert Song signs in the 2nd division at Red Star Bangou, earns a little money to put butter in the spinach and support his mother who raises him alone.
At 16, the young man joined Tonnerre de Yaoundé, one of the biggest clubs in the country.
He discovered the selection in stride, and played his first World Cup in 1994 in the United States, at only 17 years old.
"
In Cameroon, people love him for his charisma and his determination
"
For almost two decades, Rigobert Song wore the Indomitable Lions jersey.
He currently remains the record holder for selections with the Indomitable Lions (137).
Rigobert Song is also the only player to have played in eight African Cups (with two victories in 2000 and 2002) and no one on the African continent has played as many CAN matches as him (36).
“
He was a very great defender who played for big clubs like Liverpool.
He has always been a leader on the field.
For Africa, he is an icon
”, testifies for RFI Benjamin Moukandjo, captain of the Lions during the victory in Gabon during the
CAN 2017.
Powerful and aggressive defender, Rigobert Song was excluded twice from the World Cup with after seeing red against Brazil at 17, in 1994, for his second match, he received two yellows against Chile in 1998. With his teammates Samuel Eto'o (became its president, at the head of the Cameroonian Federation) and Jacques Songo'o, he participated four times in the World Cup meeting (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010).
"
To participate in four World Cups is huge
," says Benjamin Moukandjo.
Especially when you see how difficult it is to qualify as an African country.
In Cameroon, people love him for his charisma and determination.
I had the chance to meet him and he exudes something strong.
I hope he will be able to convey his desire to do well in the locker room.
He is legitimate when he speaks.
This is already a plus for the team.
»
Coach, Rigobert Song, did it a bit by chance.
After his playing career, Joël Muller, president of the union of football coaches in France from 2001 to 2016, encouraged him to become a coach and Song returned to school in Clairefontaine.
He finds among others Zinédine Zidane and Claude Makelele.
“
I fought to stay alive
”
In Qatar, the one who qualified the Lions with a victory against Algeria at the last second will therefore continue this fabulous love story with the selection.
And yet, the man missed out on the drama in 2016 when a stroke almost killed him.
Two years later, he headed the A' selection for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) held in Morocco.
“
I fought to stay alive.
I could not leave those who prayed for me.
I said to myself that it was not my time
”, told us comfortably seated in the lobby of his hotel the man with the dreadlocks.
Rigobert Song had regained his health, his passion for football had remained intact.
“
I'm always in the mind of a competitor.
I am no longer in the field, but I have the same state of mind
, ”said the one who feared possible consequences.
And to add: “
I am proud to be back and to continue my activities thanks to the support of my federation and the Cameroonian people.
I have to give back what they gave me.
»
Today,
Rigobert Song
has the delicate mission of making Roger Milla's nation shine in Qatar.
A bet made possible by Samuel Eto'o, head of the federation.
The former Lens defender was chosen in February 2022 after the dismissal of Portuguese Antonio Conceição.
His appointment was debated and some did not fail to recall that he had supported Eto'o when he was campaigning to become president of the federation (FECAFOOT).
The former player of Metz, Liverpool, West Ham, Lens or Galatasaray must make people forget Cameroon's last outing at the World Cup, in 2014 in Brazil.
At the time, the Indomitable Lions had more than disappointed.
Beaten by Mexico, and humiliated by Croatia and Brazil, the Cameroonians, who had been deprived of official competitions since the
2010 World Cup
, returned home with their heads down.
Will the legend Rigobert Song be able to restore the image of the Indomitable Lions?
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