Rigobert Song Appointed Head Coach of Cameroon U-23 Side

Former Indomitable Lions Captain Rigobert Song has been appointed as Cameroon’s Under-23 head coach.

The 42-year-old was appointed on Wednesday to succeed Richard Towa, who left without doing any major work since his appointment due to lack of competitions.

Song first assignment will be against Chad in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations U-23 qualifiers in November.

The Olympic Lions will host the Saos in the first match of the two-legged tie in Yaounde in a date that will be decided later.

Ahead of the clash, 35 players, mostly based in Cameroon, have been requested to assemble in camp to start preparations.

Cameroon are said to have put faith on the former international due to his past experience in handling their 2018 CHAN squad as well as his past job as Chad national team head coach.

During his playing career, Song won over 100 caps for the Indomitable Lions, and also became the first African to play at four World Cups.

Having made his international debut against Mexico in 1993, the former Galatasaray defender captained Cameroon for 10 years until Eto’o took on the role in late 2009.

In 2003 he witnessed the death of Marc-Vivien Foe, who died on the pitch during Cameroon’s Confederations Cup match against Colombia.

Song retired from international football in 2010 after playing at the World Cup in South Africa – the only time the tournament has been held on the continent.

Highlights of his club career include a four-year spell at Turkish side Galatasaray and three years in England playing for Liverpool and West Ham between 1999 and 2002.