Rigobert Song already facing opposition in Central African Republic
Appointed Central African Republic head coach by the sports minister without the federation being told, Rigobert Song finds himself in an awkward position
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After a failed attempt in mid-January, sports minister Héritier Doneng has this time managed to get Rigobert Song to sign a two-year contract.
Read also: Rigobert Song officially Central African Republic head coach
The much-publicised signing drew no comment from the Central African Football Federation, which had publicly stated its preference to continue with a Central African coach, namely former captain Eloge Enza-Yamissi.
Enza-Yamissi continues his work as head coach
Since the start of the year, Enza-Yamissi has been in Bangui working with the local players and overseeing the various youth categories. With his costs covered by the federation, he is currently preparing his squad list for the next get-together.
The minister's view is that Enza-Yamissi should join Song's staff as an assistant. That is an option the young coach cannot countenance, and neither can his federation, which had unanimously chosen to stick with local coaching staff.
Even so, the sports minister's heavy-handed move has not solved every problem. Rigobert Song may have officially signed a contract, but will he be on the bench against Madagascar and Mali in the next international window?
While the Cameroonian is entitled to assert his rights, the situation is turning into a muddle, as Célestin Yanindji, the FCF president, did not back down in his meeting with the sports minister on Tuesday 4 March. It raises questions over the future of the coaches and over the increasingly simmering conflict between the minister and the federation...