One of the first major challenges of the new coach of the Indomitable Lions is to bring back Joel Matip in the Tanière. He can count on the support of the president of FECAFOOT.
Rigobert Song is already in his clothes as Cameroon coach. The former Indomitable Lions defender is now looking ahead to the next big event for his team: the 2022 World Cup play-offs. He is hoping to have Joel Matip in his squad for this event. The Liverpool defender has not been in the national team for several years.
Cameroon will face Algeria on 25 and 29 March. The winner of the two-legged tie (first leg and second leg) will qualify for the World Cup in Qatar (21 November-18 December). Rigobert Song wants to pocket the ticket. And to do this, he intends to put all the assets on his side, including Joel Matip.
Convincing Jean Matip
According to some indiscretions, the successor of Antonio Conceiçao and the president of FECAFOOT, Samuel Eto'o, are currently in Germany to deal with this issue. The two former teammates are expected to meet with the father of the Liverpool defender, Jean Matip. The goal: to push him to reconsider his son's decision to abandon the Cameroonian shirt.
And for that, he is accompanied in his approach by Samuel Eto'o. I think that between them, they have what it takes to convince this player.
Joel Matip has put a cross on the Cameroon national team since his failed stint at the 2014 World Cup. He was his country's only scorer against Brazil (4-1). It was the only game he played in that competition. The native of Bochum in Germany had subsequently expressed his frustration with the choices of the coach at the time, Volker Finke. Recently, on the eve of the 2021 African Cup of Nations, the possibility of his return to the national team was raised. But the interested party sent strong words, declaring that he wanted to devote himself to his club.
