Cameroon football federation endorses new coach Jean-Paul Akono

Oct 2, 2012 2:44:00 PM

The Fecafoot has saluted the government’s decision to replace the Indomitable Lions coach following the team’s debacle in the first leg of the 2013 Afcon final qualifying round

In a letter addressed to Cameroon minister of sports Adoum Garoua on Monday, the football federation (Fecafoot) said it acknowledged the importance of the decision to replace the national team’s former coach Denis Lavagne after he failed to obtain a satisfactory result from the first leg of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying round against Cape Verde.

This endorsement of new coach Jean-Paul Akono puts an end to rumours of grudges within the Fecafoot that the government’s action was a pure interference in the affairs of the body.

Frenchman Lavagne is considered as a protégé of the football federation, which did not immediately react to his suspension and subsequent dismissal.

“The decision to suspend Denis Lavagne and appoint a new coach and technical staff was in line with our proposals. We at Fecafoot, in order to ensure Cameroon’s qualification for the 2013 Afcon, wish the new team good luck, with the understanding that we will always be available and collaborate with them,” the FA said in the letter signed by its president Iya Mohammed.

Cape Verde stunned the four-time African champions 2-0 on September 8 in Praia, but local pundits are confident the Lions will be able to overturn the deficit and snatch a win in the return leg set for October 14 in Yaounde to qualify for next year’s showpiece after they failed to make it to the Gabon / Equatorial Guinea 2012.

Coach Akono on Monday published a 26-man squad for the clash including former captain and four-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o.

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