Commentary: Lions AFCON woes: Eto'o to blame, not Song.

Media reports from Côte d'Ivoire I read note that FECAFOOT President, Samuel Eto'o, who employed Rigobert Song in very controversial circumstances, was also surprised and in anger, is alleged to have been threatening Song and his coaching staff that: “Aren’t you ashamed of humiliating Cameroonians? I am going to fire you! If you don't do the job, I'll fire you...you're incapable of making the team play!"

Against the Teranga Lions of Senegal at the Yamoussoukro Stadium during the second day, it turned into a fiasco for Cameroon. 

From the first minutes, Senegal piled pressure on the Cameroonian defense. Song's players had difficulty getting the ball out cleanly, despite a reshuffled team with Andre Onana reputed for keeping a ‘clean sheet’ in many matches.

Cameroon soccer commentators relying on past glories sang how in most encounters Cameroon had faced the Senegalese, the Indomitable Lions had dominated them. 

So, they thought victory was a foregone conclusion. They were humiliated with a 1-3 score line.

Their chances of qualifications are now being dangled on the performance of other countries. 

"If Senegal beats Guinea who are on 4 points and the Lions beat Gambia, depending on the goal defence, we shall qualify to the next round".

What if Guinea defeats Senegal who are already qualified for the next round and may just use their team B to preserve their players since when they will lead their group even with a defeat or draw?

Even if Guinea draws, Cameroon will only counting on being picked among the three best losers; this in the event they must beat The Gambia. But again, what is the assurance that the Lions will beat The Gambia?

The so-called fighting spirit in the national team is gone. But it is not Song who is being called to resign, which is the least he can do to save face, but his "Kontri man" Samuel Eto'o Fils, who employed him.

Unlike in the past when the vacancy for the national team coach was advertised and after screening, a list of five names was sent to the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education to appoint from, Eto'o kicked aside that procedure. Even with the opposition by the minister of sports, he still went ahead to recruit Song.

Nobody in Song's position would have refused such an offer of a national coach presented on a platter of gold, knowing that many Cameroonians are used to appointments not on merit but on tribal and other subterranean considerations.

Song has, however, proved his limitations of competence to handle a squad that on historical record is among the first three best performing African nations. It has won five trophies of the competition, second only to Egypt with seven.

Cameroon has the odds of returning home after the first round, which is unheard of in the country's soccer history. Time for blame game is over. Eto'o should save himself any iota of respect he has as FECAFOOT President and fire Song; even if by some magical wand, he takes the team to the elimination round.  

Postscript: Look, I’m a coach. I’m not Harry Potter. He is magical, but in reality, there is no magic. Magic is fiction and football is real- José Mourinho

Column: Truth That Must Be Told by Asong Ndifor