Adjustments to be made in national team President Paul Biya assures

President Paul Biya assured youths and football lovers in his 2024 Youth Day address that measures will be taken to resolve the inadequacies that the senior national team is currently facing.

The Head of State expressed disappointment in Cameroon’s early elimination from the AFCON 2023.

“Like me, you were certainly disappointed by the early elimination of our Indomitable Lions from the ongoing Africa Cup Nations in Côte d’Ivoire” he said.

The President acknowledged that “victory does not happen by chance”. He noted that “it requires not only talent, but also courage, discipline, organization and hard work.”

Coach Rigobert Song is considered to have failed to build a cohesive team since his appointed as coach of the Indomitable Lions two years ago. 

In the ongoing AFCON, his omission of players like Choupo Moting, Fai Collins and benching of others like Andre Onana, Clinton Njie and Vincent Aboubaker when the captain was fit to play after recovering from an injury, raised questions about his competence.

“I am aware of the importance of football to you” President Paul Biya said. “In our difficult context, the State is making enormous financial sacrifices in that connection, and is therefore entitled to require better organization and results.”

“We will see to it” he indicated. “The government and particularly the ministry in charge of sports have received clear instructions in that regard” the President added.

He quoted Francis Ngannou as an example, saying the MMA fighter represents hard work, courage and discipline.