Controversy surrounds Song’s appointment as CAR head coach.

Song was received by Central African Republic’s president on Monday

The appointment of Rigobert Song Bahanag as head coach of Central African Republic, CAR senior men’s national football team has sparked a rift between the country’s sports ministry and its football governing body.

CAR Minister of Youth, Sport and Civic Education, Rodolphe Héritier Bonheur Doneng Wanzoumon ON Monday January 13, issued a release, naming Song as lead trainer of the Wild Beast.



Song who coached the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon for two years, was received by CAR Head of State, Prof Prof Faustin-Archange Touadera earlier same day before the release appointing him as the country’s national team trainer was made public.

The formers Lions defender has been without a coaching job since leaving the role of lead trainer of the national team of Cameroon in February 2024.

While Song was looking to settle down and begin work as the CAR national team trainer, the country’s football federation in a statement disputed his appointment.

The federation in a release yesterday said it executive wasn’t consulted before the former Liverpool and Galatasaray defender was handed the coaching job. 

“The Executive Committee of the Central African Football Federation, meeting in extraordinary session on 14 January 2025, informs national and international opinion that it was neither involved in nor consulted on this decision,” part of the federation’s statement seen by The Guardian Post, reads. 

“Consequently, it declares that it does not recognise this unilateral decision which is contrary to the provisions in force: ‘Decisions concerning the recruitment of members of management structures must remain among the rights and competences reserved solely for the Executive Committee of the federation” the body added. 

 

Song’s appointment defeats principle of prioritising local coaches 

Besides faulting the sports ministry for not involving the federation in the process to choose a new trainer for the Wild Beast, the football governing body also stated that bringing a foreigner to coach the national team goes against its principle of prioritising local coaches. 

“…The Central African Football Federation had decided to nationalise the position of head coach of the senior men’s team. The interim role was therefore entrusted to an all-Central African technical staff led by Eloge Enza Yamissi, former captain of the Wild Beasts,” the federation said.

 

Tough job awaiting Song if confirmed

The Central African Republic national team has been without a trainer since Swiss football tactician, Raoul Savoy left the role of head coach in October 2025.

Eloge Yamissi Enza was named as interim head coach following Savoy’s departure. 

Song, if finally confirmed, will be taking over a team that has never been to the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON and World Cup since it was created 1961.

Though details of Song’s contract and main task weren’t made public, his primary responsibility will be to build a formidable squad for the Wild Beast which can put up a decent performance in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and also qualify for the team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

 

Song’s coaching job 

Song began his coaching journey with Cameroon in 2018 when he led the Intermediate Lions during the 2018 African Nations Championships in Morocco. 

He later led the Under-23 team during the 2019 Under-23 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

During his reign as the lead trainer of the Indomitable Lions, he took the team to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. 

 

Strong team to accompany ‘Manyang’ 

Song fondly called Manyang will be accompanied on the Wild Beast coaching bench by a strong trio of technicians from the Central African Republic and France.

The first assistant trainer, Eloge Yamissi Enza, has been the interim trainer of the Wild Beasts since October last year.

Eloge Enza who recorded some 430 club appearances while playing for teams in France and other parts of the world, bagged 29 caps for the Wild Beasts between 2010 and 2019.

The second assistant trainer, Sebastien Ngato is the current head coach of the nation’s home-based team. 

Ngato and the home-based Wild Beasts eliminated Cameroon last month to qualify for the forthcoming 2024 African Nations Championships, a first for the country.

The third assistant, Eric Cabalero is expected to serve as physical trainer.  Cabalero was Guinea Country’s assistant coach during the 2017 Under-20 World Cup. 

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3339 of Wednesday January 15, 2025

 

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