By Angu Lesley
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
Congo head coach Claude Le Roy has revealed that some players turned down invitations to join the national team after demanding huge sums of money, reportedly as much as FCFA 30 million (about US$50,000).
The revelation comes at a difficult moment for the Diables Rouges, who are preparing for their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, including a meeting with Cameroon in Brazzaville on September 29.
Le Roy says the demands have made it difficult to bring some players into the national team as he looks to build a squad capable of competing for a place at the next AFCON.
The veteran Frenchman knows Cameroon football particularly well. He famously guided the Indomitable Lions to the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations title, before returning years later for another spell in charge of the national team.
This time, however, Le Roy will be standing on the opposite side when Congo host Cameroon. The former Cameroon coach will be looking to use his experience to mastermind a result against the team he once led to continental success.
At 78, Le Roy remains one of the most experienced coaches in African international football. His CV includes spells with Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo and several other national teams.
His immediate task is to get Congo fully focused on the AFCON qualifiers despite the challenges surrounding player availability and financial demands.
And when Congo face Cameroon in Brazzaville on September 29, it will be a particularly interesting reunion for Le Roy — a coach who once brought glory to the Indomitable Lions, now trying to stop them on the road to another major tournament.
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