Renowned German coach Weinfrid Schäfer, who etched a memorable moment in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) with Cameroon’s victory in 2002, has opened up about his experiences and insights in an exclusive interview with Kooora.
Beginning his impactful journey with the Cameroonian national team, Schäfer expanded his horizons to the Arab region, coaching Al Ain and Bani Yas in the UAE.
His coaching venture concluded with Qatar’s Al Khor.
In a conversation with Kooora, the esteemed coach discussed his rumored negotiations with Egypt’s Zamalek and shared his expectations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and Asia Cup.
Here’s an excerpt from the interview:
Q: First of all, our condolences to German football on the passing of the legend Franz Beckenbauer.
A: Greetings.
The world of football has lost significantly with the departure of Beckenbauer, a true legend whose void cannot be filled.
Q: What’s the truth behind your candidacy for coaching Zamalek?
A: I have great affection for Egypt.
I played against Zamalek when I was a player at Borussia Monchengladbach back in 1985 under the leadership of the great coach Jupp Heynckes.
Zamalek is a fantastic team, and I would be honored to coach them.
It’s a great privilege to be considered for the position.
Q: The Africa Cup of Nations is just days away. What memories do you have from winning the 2002 title?
A: Winning the African title gives you a fantastic feeling.
I had a great generation led by Samuel Eto’o and Rigobert Song.
I had all the players I wanted and dealt with them exceptionally.
We achieved the title after a tremendous struggle, and I am proud to have coached this generation.
Q: Rigobert Song is now the coach of Cameroon. Do you expect them to win the title?
A: Cameroon currently has a promising national team.
I followed them in the 2022 World Cup, and they defeated Brazil.
Song is fortunate to have Samuel Eto’o at the head of the Cameroonian Football Federation.
In my time, the Sports Minister killed my team by refusing to spend money, and we exited without any achievement in the 2002 World Cup.
Anyway, I wish all the best to the former player Song.
Q: How do you view the exclusion of Choupo-Moting, the star of Bayern Munich, from Cameroon’s squad?
A: I think it was a surprise because he is a great striker, and I don’t know the reasons for his exclusion.
Q: Does Morocco’s brilliance in the World Cup Qatar make them the top contender for the CAN title?
A: I am delighted with the achievement of the Atlas Lions, and they could have reached the final if not for the experience of France.
The Moroccan national team always plays easy and entertaining football, and, of course, they are the top contender for the CAN title.
Q: How do you see Egypt’s chances?
A: Egypt’s national team is a perennial contender, and I have faced the Pharaohs.
I know their strength, but in my opinion, the problem is finding a coach who can handle the players and loves the country itself.
The second point that, in my view, will determine Egypt’s success is the team’s ability to play collectively, not relying solely on Mohamed Salah.
Q: Do you mean that the Egyptian national team needs to “liberate” Salah?
A: Certainly.
Let me give you an example.
How many times has the Argentine national team gone to the World Cup as favorites but still exited in the quarter-finals or finals? The difference in my opinion between the previous participations and the last edition in the World Cup was the collective effort that freed Messi from pressure.
Egypt needs a collective team.
Q: Players like Omar Marmoush and Fares Shaiby, many Bundesliga stars, will appear in the CAN.Do you expect any of them to shine?
A: There are many names in the Africa Cup of Nations playing in Europe, not just in Germany, and it’s fantastic for African football.
I do not expect success for a specific name.
Q: Mohamed Salah, Drogba, Eto’o, who do you think had the greatest African career in Europe?
A: All of them are great stars who gave their best.
Salah was a champion with Liverpool, Drogba excelled with Chelsea, and Eto’o also achieved great success.
I cannot choose between them, but I am happy for African football, and I hope we enjoy a good tournament.
Q: The Asian Cup will also kick off these days. Do you expect an Arab team to win it?
A: I believe the task is not easy for Arab teams because the best players in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are not in their prime.
Some have not progressed because they did not go to Europe, unlike the talents of Asian football, especially Japan.
I remember that Omar Abdulrahman, the best player in the UAE, performed well at the 2012 London Olympics but regressed because he did not experience European football.
