MTN Elite One: Canon names Patrice Noukeu as new coach.

Canon Sportif said Noukeu would replace Joseph Atangana, who had a stint as interim head coach following the sacking of Olivier Nankam on April 23.

The decision by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Benoît Placide Mevoua, is accompanied by two other appointments. 

The club has also appointed former AS Fortuna coach, Mardochée Ngaba, as their new assistant coach and Denis Mahouli as the new physical trainer.

These new staff members, along with retained technicians, will officiate for the first time on May 14 during matchday 23 of the MTN Elite One against PWD of Bamenda.

Noukeu handed tough task as canon boss

The new head coach of Canon Sportif, Patrice Noukeu, has a tough task ahead of him, with the club currently on a poor run. 

Noukeu is taking over the club at a time when Canon Sportif is winless in their last four matches, with two draws against Gazelle FA of Garoua and Panthere Sportive of Nde, and two defeats to Coton Sport of Garoua and Dynamo of Douala.

Canon Sportif is currently seventh in the 16-club table with 32 points from 24 matches. The Yaoundé-based outfit blew their chances of securing their first league title in 23 years following their poor performance and is 18 points behind current league leaders Colombe Sportive of the Dja and Lobo. 

The last time the club won the championship was in 2002, which was also the last year they won a major title. With the hopes of extending the club's long wait for the coveted title now seemingly out of sight, Noukeu is tasked with ensuring a better finish for Canon Sportif of Yaoundé this season. 

Last season, they reached the title playoffs, where they faced seven teams in a round-robin tournament to decide the league title. However, the 10-time champions faltered, finishing sixth on the table after two wins, two draws, and three defeats in their disappointing campaign.

Noukeu, who spent most of his professional career playing in Belgian teams with spells in Greece and Azerbaijan, is said to be in his first experience as a coach. 

However, fans believe the highly experienced 43-year-old will live up to the hype and elevate the status of the club to its glory days.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3448 of Wednesday May 14, 2025