o can a case be made for Cameroon? Just about, yes. The eternal politicking between football federation and sports ministry goes on, but the diplomatic work of the former African Footballer of the Year Jean Manga Onguene, now technical director of the federation, has at least eased tensions. The initial impact was the dismissal of the French coach Denis Lavagne and his replacement with the former national team defender Jean-Paul Akono, technically only on a temporary basis.
Akono did a fine job of rallying those who had retired to that cause but then suffered a heart attack, ensuring his reign would only be temporary. Onguene had spoken eloquently about the need not to waste money on unproven foreign coaches, so it's hard to know how in favour he was of Akono's successor, the German Volker Finke.
Akono did a fine job of rallying those who had retired to that cause but then suffered a heart attack, ensuring his reign would only be temporary. Onguene had spoken eloquently about the need not to waste money on unproven foreign coaches, so it's hard to know how in favour he was of Akono's successor, the German Volker Finke.

