Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions
Rigobert Song Bahanag’s recent appointment as new head coach of the Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions put to rest speculations on the fate of national football team.
His appointment may have been received with mixed feelings by some Cameroonians, but for many who know this Cameroonian football legend and his work ethics, the Indomitable Lions could just be in safe hands.
For many decades, Cameroonians had strongly wished to see one of theirs steer the affairs of their national team.
Therefore, the choice of this 45-year old could be considered as a powerful paradigm shift, intentionally influenced by the highest state authority.
By every stretch of imagination, Song Bahanag’s appointment is expected to shake the length and breadth of the country’s senior men’s national football team; and for many, the handwriting on the wall is clear for all to see: a Cameroonian should as well be entrusted the task of piloting the affairs of the national team.
Many Cameroonian optimists strongly dismissed as fake claims by detractors that Coach Bahanag’s appointment was a poisoned gift to the national team.
However, there is an absolute need to exercise patience especially given that Rome was never built in a day. The new technical team, led by the former emblematic captain of the Indomitable lions, must continue from where his predecessor, Antonio Conceçao, ended; and this means that the work in progress must be visible enough for all to see.
The new coach must bear in mind that Antonio Conceçao has left behind a team of tactical innovations as well as individual and collective brilliance.
In a perilous period where results have to take priority over performances, the new coach must frown at favoritism, tribalism, sectionalism and above all corruption. He must go in only for the best players,the goal scorers.
For over the years, his predecessors have come under the spyglass and stiff criticisms for shady financial deals with players and football agents for places in the national team.
The detection of young talents ready to give in their all for fatherland, keeping a steady eye on the domestic championship, wooing more foreign -based players to join the team, convincing others who had turned their back on the team, as well as ensuring order and discipline in the dressing room, must be the recipe for Song Bahanag and his team.
Noted for his never-say-die attitude, his wisdom and lion heart, his humility and personality, Coach Song Bahanag has been handed a national patrimony. Henceforth, he would get used to sharp criticisms from Cameroonians and others.
With football fast becoming a volatile and erratic sport, supporters of the Indomitable lions are dearly attached to their national team, The new coach should be aware that the emotions and impatience of supporters will from time to time push them to call for his head.
The new coach must build an identity for the national team, a convincing and attractive playing style characteristic of his days as a player with the same national team.
Many might have doubted his ability and propensity, but the coach won the hearts of many with his attractive induced brand of football which the U-23 national team exhibited at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
SEBASTIEN MIGNE: LE ROY’S FAITHFUL TRAINEE
Sebastien Migne is the Assistant Coach of the Indomitable Lions.
Mr.Migné is logically considered as the kingpin of the national team’s new technical staff. He has got huge experience and served several clubs and national teams.
It alleged that veteran –French football Coach, Claude Le Roy, nicknamed the “White Wizard” influenced his appointment as Deputy Coach of the Indomitable lions.
Le Roy guided Cameroon to their second Africa Nations Cup success in 1988 and since then the French man has enjoyed a very good relationship with Cameroon authorities.
Mr. Migné was appointed on February28, 2022 by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education.
Who is Sebastien Migné?
He was born on November 30, 1972 in the French locality of La Roche-sur-Yon. After a professional career in France and England, he began a coaching career, mainly as assistant to his compatriot, Jean-Pierre Papin, and then to Claude Marie Le Roy in various national teams.
In 2017, he secured his first coaching job for the Republic of Congo.
Migné began his professional career in 1989 at La Roche-sur-Yon and then at FC Mougins in 1993, passing through Stade de Vallauris in 1994. He then moved to England in 1996, where he played for Hoxton FC and then Boreham Wood FC in 1997. His last season as a footballer was with Leyton Orient.
In 1998, he began a career as a football coach with FC Mougins. He then became Jean-Pierre Papin’s assistant at French club Strasbourg and then at Lens still in France. In 2008, Claude Le Roy convinced him to become his new assistant after the departure of Hervé Renard. Le Roy, assisted by Migné, took charge of the Oman national team and then Syria in 2011. After only two months, they guided the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two years later, they joined neighbouring Congo. Sebastien Migné finished his career as assistant coach under Claude Le Roy with Togo in 2017.
He then decided to return to Congo Brazzaville as head coach, taking up the post on March 6, 2017. He signed a contract with the Kenyan national team on May 3, 2018.
On August 12, 2019, with two years left on his contract, the French man reached an amicable agreement with Nick Mwembdwa, president of the Kenya Football Association (KFA), to leave his position as coach. On November 7, 2019, he was appointed head coach of Equatorial Guinea where he signed a two-year contract. He however left them in June 2020.
His Achievements
As an assistant coach, he won the French CFA championship in 2004 with Evian-Thonon-Gaillard and was finalist in the League Cup in 2008 with Lens. He then won the Persian Gulf Cup in 2009 with the Omani team.
As head coach of the Kenyan national team, Mr. Migné was nominated for the first time in his coaching career in the CAF Awards as representative of the best men’s team of the year 2019. This came on the heels of Kenya securing qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after 15 years of waiting. Mr.Migné had guided through this wonderful achievement as they beat Ethiopia 3-0 at home in the fifth round of qualifiers.
It’s hoped he would contribute his very best to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
