Algeria, Djamel Belmadi, his contract, the legacy left by his predecessor Antonio Conceiçao, the contribution of Samuel Eto'o, the state of health of Andre Onana ... The manager of Cameroon has reviewed everything, less than 24 hours before the first leg of the playoffs of the World Cup 2022.
There are those who say that you have come at the wrong time as a coach. But can your experience (4 World Cups played, editor's note) be seen as a great asset?
I have a role as manager-selector with my young brothers. At the level we are at, my role is very simple: it's to be able to bring the experience I've gained throughout my career to the players. I explain to them how to prepare for this kind of competition, even if they don't have much to learn. It's going very well. Tomorrow they will show us on the field.
Except that you don't have much time with this team...
When you are a competitor, you are ready for anything. I won't change much in this group. It's a team that's been in place for a long time. I'm going to give them something that will simply allow them to go beyond their strengths. I don't pretend to change everything. In a few days, I can't do otherwise. We are in a very delicate phase, we are in an emergency. And when we are in an emergency, we use emergency methods. What we want is qualification. Nothing else.
Djamel Belmadi has been quick to lash out at Cameroon, criticising the Japoma pitch in particular, and he also believes that your appointment in a short time could be an advantage for his team. What is your reaction?
In this business, when you fail, you always find reasons to explain the situation. Algeria is not the only team to have played on the Japoma pitch. There are other nations that have played there and have done well. But that's not what we are interested in. We are focused and we are ready to go to Qatar.
What have you inherited from your predecessor Antonio Conceiçao?
I'm just following on from him. Conceiçao has done a very good job. For those who don't know, during the African Cup of Nations, there were about six players I coached at U23 level in our team. I worked a lot with him. He is someone who deserves a lot of respect for his work. I am really in continuity.
How do you feel about Algeria with 24 hours to go?
I know the Algerian team well. We had the opportunity to see them during the CAN 2021. I know the coach very well. We met several times on the field, I know his character. Today, there is an objective. We do not underestimate our opponent. We have all our resources and we know what we have to do. It's going to come down to the pitch. We will fight like warriors.
Have you finally signed your contract as Cameroon's manager?
We have been working on this for a long time. It's also a form of strategy. The president is very professional and he knows what he is doing. We have signed the right contracts. Now it's up to us to work.
What is the contribution of the president of Fécafoot, your former teammate Samuel Eto'o?
First of all, I would like to thank the president of Fécafoot. He took the risk - and he told me not to call it a risk - to give me this heavy responsibility. But he is a competitor. He is aware that qualification is possible and that the person who has been given this responsibility has the means to fulfil this mission.
What is the state of the infirmary?
We have called up 27 players. We had two injury concerns, Zambo Anguissa and Moumi Ngamaleu. We are doing with what we have. The team is complete. The state of mind is good. We know why we are here. We have no right to make mistakes. There is no way back. The morale is high.
Even with regard to goalkeeper André Onana, who was in an accident last Tuesday?
André Onana is doing very well under the plans. I have spoken to him. There is nothing to worry about.
