Cameroon sack head coach Seedorf after Afcon 2019 exit

Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) on Tuesday sacked the head coach of its national team Clarence Seedorf and his deputy Patrick Kluivert, blaming them for poor performance at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Defending Champions Cameroon were disqualified at the round of 16 after a 3-2 defeat to Nigeria during the tournament currently taking place in Egypt.

“Following the premature disqualification of the male football team of Cameroon, Cameroon Football Federation has decided to put an end to the functions of the coach and his assistant,” the federation’s president Seidou Mbombo Njoya said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

On Monday, Cameroon’s minister Of Sports and Physical  Education, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, told state media that Seedorf was “unable to discipline” the team during the championship.

Seedorf was sacked together with his assistant.

Seedorf’s position was already under scrutiny before the tournament. On Tuesday, the Cameroon football hierarchy decided to show him and assistant coach Patrick Kluivert the exit after 11 months in charge.

The dutch duo arrived in Cameroon in August 2018, replacing Alexandre Belinga who was temporarily coaching the team.

The indomitable Lions won just one game of their four matches at the tournament in Egypt, which led to calls from the country’s sports minister, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, for the pair to be released from their contracts.

Former Ac Milan and Netherlands midfielder Seedorf was in charge for 12 matches but won only four against  Malawi, Comoros Islands, Zambia, and Guinea- Bissau.

The job was his first in international football after previous brief spells in charge of Ac Milan and Deportivo La Coruna in Spain.

Cameroon will host the next Nations Cup Finals in June 2021 but must take part in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers that are likely to start later this year.

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