Renowned former Cameroon coach Rigobert Song has been named the new manager of the Central African Republic.
The announcement was made late Monday by the country’s sports minister, marking a new chapter for the Wild Beasts.
Song’s primary mission is to achieve what has eluded the team so far—qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The Wild Beasts narrowly missed out on the 2023 tournament after crucial defeats in their last two qualifying matches.
At 48, Song brings a wealth of experience, including guiding Cameroon to the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.
Under his leadership, Cameroon secured their spot with a dramatic late goal in extra time against Algeria in the qualifiers.
Despite a historic 1-0 win against Brazil, Cameroon’s World Cup journey ended in the group stage in Qatar.
Song’s tenure as Cameroon’s coach saw mixed results, with six wins, nine losses, and eight draws over 23 matches.
Cameroon opted not to renew Song’s contract after the Indomitable Lions’ early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
As a player, Song was a legendary defender, earning 137 caps for Cameroon and playing for clubs like Liverpool and West Ham.
Now, he embarks on a bold mission to rewrite the history of Central African football with his experience and determination.