Three Weeks Before The World Cup Play-offs, Cameroon Appoints Rigobert Song As New Coach

JAKARTA - Former captain Rigobert Song was appointed on Tuesday as Cameroon's new coach. He replaced Toni Conceicao just three weeks before the crucial World Cup play-offs.

Song made 137 appearances for Cameroon during his nearly 17-year international career, competing in four World Cups and eight Africa Cup of Nations finals.

He played for English football clubs at Liverpool and West Ham United, and also served in France, Germany, Italy and Turkey. The 45-year-old man has become the Cameroon U-23 national team coach.

Meanwhile, Conceicao led Cameroon to third place at last month's Africa Cup of Nations finals. However, the Pertugal-born coach's contract was not renewed.

"The assignment to our upcoming national team requires a new orientation and a new breath," Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) President Samuel Eto'o said in a statement.

A separate statement from Fecafoot gave no details on the length of Song's contract but said, "Rigobert Song and his team don't have time to open a bottle of champagne as their first big challenge is in weeks".

Cameroon host Algeria at Yaounde on 25 March and then play the return match at Blida on 29 March with the playoff winners qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar.