Seedorf

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have parted ways with their head coach, Clarence Seedorf just over a week after they were eliminated by the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Round of 16 at the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Egypt.

Confirming the development, the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT) said the decision to sack Seedorf and his assistant, Patrick Kluivert followed a consultation between executives of FECAFOOT and the country’s Ministry of Sports and Education.

“After consulting the FECAFOOT Executive Committee and the Ministry of Sports and Education, in the wake of the premature elimination of Cameroon senior male national team from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the Cameroon Football Federation, in conformity with the stipulations of the resolutive condition of their respective employment contracts has decided to terminate the duties of coach Clarence Clyde Seedorf and his assistant, Patrick Stephan Kluivert with immediate effect,” a statement signed by FECAFOOT President, Seidou Mbombo Njoya read.

This decision to sack the duo who took over the roles in August last year came just a day after the country’s Sports and Education Minister, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi called for their dismissal on live television.

“Failures and inadequacies of technical supervision as well as his inability to maintain discipline in the team largely accounted for the failure of the Indomitable Lions at the 2019 AFCON and these contradict the contract he signed on August 10, 2018,” Kombi said. 

Seedorf’s position was already under scrutiny even before the tournament. He was criticized following his preference to work from outside Cameroon and only visit the country for a few days before important matches.

During his reign as head coach, the Dutchman boasted of just three wins, with four draws and three defeats. 

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ruled out wielding the axe on Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr despite his failure to lead the team to the final of the 2019 AFCON. 

The German coach, who has one year left on his contract with the NFF, led the Eagles to the last four of the AFCON but his future had been uncertain following strings of unimpressive performances by his side at the tournament.

The NFF president, Amaju Pinnick said although the coach and the NFF have had several issues in the past, he has absolute confidence in the German whom he said would be sent out on a refresher course at Bayern Munich.

“He (Rohr) will remain in the job. I have complete confidence in him. Gernot has taken us to the semi -final , the target we set for him. Right now, we have a third-place match to play for and we intend to have our team leave Egypt with honour.

“There are some people that have been calling on me and the federation to sack Gernot but I am not going to do that. In fact, Gernot is going on a refresher training period with Bayern Munich after the Nations Cup. We have a long-term plan with him.

“We have had rocky and difficult moments in our relationship but this is normal in any relationship between two people. He is a good coach and we want him to remain with us. That said, we will work together on what needs to be improved upon,” Pinnick told journalists in Egypt.