New Delhi: A fresh controversy has erupted in African football, with Rigobert Song at the centre of a row between the Central African Republic’s sports ministry and its football federation. On Monday, the sports minister unilaterally appointed the former Cameroon captain as the head coach of the national team. However, the federation has publicly rejected the decision, claiming it was made without consultation.
Song, a four-time World Cup player and former coach of Cameroon, was officially named head coach after a meeting with President Faustin-Archange Touadera. The announcement, issued via a government decree, has drawn sharp criticism. The Central African Football Federation stated it learned of the appointment through social media, describing the process as “unilateral” and a breach of protocol.
CAR Federation rejects Sports Minister’s move
Rigobert Song was presented to the press as the new coach of the Central African Republic national team by the Minister of Youth and Sports this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/VVcloGV2jl
— Africa Soccer Zone (@AfricaSoccer_zn) January 15, 2025
The federation reiterated that appointing a national coach falls under its jurisdiction, not the ministry’s. Despite rejecting the decision, it expressed a desire to avoid escalating tensions between the two bodies. This situation mirrors similar incidents in African football, where governments often wield influence over sports matters due to funding responsibilities.
Song replaces Swiss coach Raoul Savoy, who was dismissed after a failed Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The CAR team is still vying for a World Cup spot and will resume qualifiers in March, facing Madagascar and Mali. They currently sit fifth in Group I, trailing leaders Comoros and Ghana by five points.
This is not the first time Song has been at the centre of controversy. His tenure as Cameroon’s coach ended in turmoil after a clash with goalkeeper Andre Onana during the 2022 World Cup. Now, with his new appointment sparking conflict in CAR football, Song finds himself once again in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
A clash between the Central African Republic’s sports ministry and football federation has sparked a scandal, with the federation rejecting the ministry’s unilateral appointment of a new coach without prior consultation. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
