Cameroon go to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with one-time Liverpool and West Ham United centre-half Rigobert Song as their manager. Les Lions Indomptables face Brazil in Group G.
The Central African country start their tournament on November 24 against Switzerland at Al Janoub Stadium. Cameroon also returns to the ground on the 28th to face Serbia before their fixture with Brazil. They face the Selecao at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on December 2.
Cameroon have not advanced from the group stage at a World Cup since the 1990 edition in Italy. Les Lions Indomptables reached the quarter-finals 32 years ago. It also marked the first – and only – time the nation has progressed beyond the first round in seven attempts.
Song featured at four World Cups during a 17-year international career including 137-caps for Cameroon. He made his debut at the finals for the 1994 edition in the United States of America with two games. The defender also featured at the 1998, 2002 and 2010 editions.
The 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea additionally saw the Nkenglicock-born ace captain his nation twice. Now, Song will manage Cameroon at a World Cup at Qatar 2022 after taking over the helm. He replaced Toni Conceicao following his sacking back in March.
Cameroon hired Rigobert Song after sacking manager Toni Conceicao in March
Cameroon hired Song after sacking Conceicao, who led Les Lions Indomptables to third at the Africa Cup of Nations. FIFA’s Football Tribunal ruled this July the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) had to pay Conceicao €1.6m (£1.4m) in compensation, via Reuters.
Song subsequently secured Cameroon’s qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after beating Algeria on away goals. Les Lions Indomptables won the second-leg of a third-round play-off 2-1 after extra time. Karl Toko Ekambi scored the decisive goal in the 124th minute.
Conceicao oversaw the final game of his two-and-a-half-year reign by beating Burkina Faso for third at AFCON 2021 this February. Egypt had eliminated Cameroon in the semi-final in just the Portuguese’s third defeat in charge. He claimed 14 wins and six draws in 23 games.
Song has already suffered as many defeats as Conceicao had in just five fixtures. Cameroon lost the first-leg of their play-off against Algeria in March. Les Lions Indomptables then lost their September friendlies with Uzbekistan and South Korea after a 1-0 win over Burundi.
Cameroon have also only scored three goals in five games under Song whilst shipping five. Conceicao’s sides found the back of the net 41 times and only let in 20 over 23 games. Les Lions Indomptables’ record under Conceicao is 8.9 scored to 4.3 conceded per five games.
Who did Rigobert Song previously manage before taking over the national team?
Cameroon took a risk by appointing Song as their new manager ahead of the Qatar World Cup. The 46-year-old only held one previous role as a head coach yet did not oversee any matches. Chad appointed the 46-year-old in October 2015 but he was gone a month later.
Song had acted as the assistant Cameroon manager from January 2012 to September 2015 under Denis Lavagne, Jean-Paul Akono and Volker Finke. He later returned to the number two position within the same set-up under Hugo Broos from April 2017 until January 2018.
FECAFOOT additionally hired Song to serve as their U23 lead coach from October 2018 to July 2022. The former Cameroon defender stood down from his youth-level position after initially holding a dual position with his duties as Les Lions Indomptables’ senior manager.
Rigobert Song represented Cameroon throughout his entire playing career
Song represented Cameroon throughout his entire playing career, which included stints in France, Italy, England, Germany and Turkey. FC Metz brought the defender to Europe from TKC Yaounde in 1994. He remained at the club for four years before moving to Salernitana.
Liverpool ensured Song only spent one season in Italy as the Reds raided the Stadio Arechi in 1999. Yet the centre-back did not enjoy a lot of success at Anfield under Gerard Houllier with only 38 appearances. West Ham then paid £2.5m for his services in November 2000.
Song would go on to feature even less in east London with 26 appearances and a loan spell at Koln in 2001/02. RC Lens would end his spell on English shores and took the defender in 2002. Moves to Galatasaray in 2004 and Trabzonspor in 2008 followed until his retirement.
The uncle of former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, Rigobert retired in 2010. He brought the curtain down on a career that featured titles at domestic and international level. Song secured a winners’ medal from Liverpool’s triumph in the UEFA Cup in 2000/01.
He already boasted a winners’ medal from Metz’s Coupe de la Ligue win after beating Lyon on penalties in 1996. While Song went on to add Turkish Cup honours with Galatasaray in 2004/05 and Trabzonspor in 2009/10. He also won the Super Lig in 2005/06 and 2007/08.
Cameroon won two Africa Cup of Nation titles with now-manager Rigobert Song
Cameroon also won two Africa Cup of Nation titles with their now-manager Song in 2000 and 2002. Les Lions Indomptables’ back-to-back triumphs saw the Central African nation become just the third to win successive titles after Egypt (1957-59) and Ghana (1963-65).
Egypt have since become the only side to win three consecutive AFCON titles with crowns in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Cameroon, meanwhile, added their fifth and most recent triumph in 2017. Les Lions Indomptables first lifted the AFCON title in 1984 and won it again in 1988.
Rigobert Song did not want to be the new Rio Ferdinand at West Ham
West Ham signed Song from Liverpool in 2000 following Rio Ferdinand’s £18m transfer to Leeds United. But the Cameroonian had no interest in becoming the new Ferdinand at the Irons. Even though the Englishman’s move set the world record for a defender at the time.
“You can’t compare us,” Song stated, as quoted by The Guardian, at the time of his arrival at Upton Park. “I am different from Rio, but I will offer the same hard work and desire to improve. I will be bringing my own experience and character to the club.”
Song – and West Ham – might have wished the World Cup-bound Cameroon manager was more like Ferdinand after joining from Liverpool. While the former failed to produce lavish success in claret-and-blue, the latter went on to join Manchester United for £30m in 2002.
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