Cameroon’s senior men’s national team coach, Rigobert Song believed his team are one of the youngest at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after the Indomitable Lions 2-0 loss to Nigeria in the Round of 16 of the tournament.
The five time African champions could not withstand the firepower of the three time winners with Ademola Lookman scoring two goals in either half to lift the Super Eagles to victory.
Song who is a two time winner of the competition in 2000 and 2002 with a runners up medal in 2008 replaced Toni Conceicao as the manager of the Cameroon national team on February 28, 2022, showed confidence about his future.
“You have coaches and you have managers. I am a manager, which means what it means, in the sense of management. You do not coach a national team, you manage it,” Song told journalist after the game in Abidjan on Saturday.
“I am a fighter, I love challenges. I will take a rest after this tournament, have a look at things and then decide (If he wants to continue as Cameroon manager).
“My analysis is that we were not bad overall, but you can see that I have the youngest team currently in competition, and there are players who are discovering,” Song told newsmen after the game.
The Indomitable Lions brought little to the table against Jose Peseiro’s side which Song has an answer for such a showing.
“It is we who give the adversary the opportunity to put us in difficulty. It’s part of the game.
“I’ve said it in the past; today I’m rebuilding. It is by making these mistakes that we will grow. It’s football. The African Cup is a competition that is played on all levels. On a technical, tactical, but also mental level.
“My players, I had the impression that they were afraid to express themselves and let themselves go. It’s part of the stress. I don’t know why we were too withdrawn.” He concluded.
After winning the AFCON titles in 1984, 1988, 2000, 2002, and 2017, the Central African side will wait for another tournament to be able to add to their continental accolades starting from the next tournament to be hosted by Morocco in 2025.
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