Fabrice Olinga, a former beacon of Cameroonian football, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Indomitable Lions’ performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Amidst high hopes and fervent expectations, Cameroon faced a disappointing elimination in the round of 16 against eventual finalists Nigeria, with a 2-0 defeat dealing a heavy blow to the aspirations of the nation.
The loss sparked widespread criticism, with observers highlighting player commitment issues and coaching deficiencies.
For Fabrice Olinga, who boasts 19 international caps and 1 goal but hasn’t been called up since October 2020, the spirit of the Indomitable Lions was lacking, emphasizing a notable absence of combativeness.
“It would be beneficial to have players rather than extras. When we make selections, we must choose players and not spectators.
There is a huge amount of talent in Cameroon, so when you select players, give them the opportunity to shine. Cameroon has always been able to meet challenges.
Cameroon has always known how to fight. We have always seen courage and passion,” remarked Olinga, now plying his trade with FC Botoșani in Romania.
“But frankly, in the match against Nigeria, even if we had played for three weeks, we would not have scored a goal.”
While Olinga places the blame squarely on the players, the fallout from the tournament has so far seen coach Rigobert Song take the fall, with his contract not renewed following its expiration at the end of February.
“He has brought a lot to this team, but the realities of football are what they are… We have not achieved our objectives, and our executive committee and I do not see the renewal of his contract as a viable option,” explained Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian football federation.
“We discussed it together. I have outlined our position, and now we must look to the future, while wishing him every success in his future endeavors.”
With only 6 victories in 23 matches during his tenure as coach, Song’s departure leaves the task of rejuvenating the team ahead of upcoming fixtures in the hands of a new manager, signaling a period of transition and renewal for Cameroonian football.
🔴 Fabrice Olinga à propos des Lions Indomptables : « Ce serait bien d’avoir des joueurs, plutôt que des figurants. Quand on fait des sélections, on doit ramener des joueurs et non des figurants. Il y a beaucoup de talents au Cameroun, alors quand vous ramenez des joueurs, donnez… pic.twitter.com/N7YF4COCiZ
— AllezLesLions (@AllezLesLions) March 3, 2024
