{"id":780179,"date":"2024-01-16T11:06:04","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T11:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.afriquesports.net\/en\/?p=780179"},"modified":"2024-01-16T11:06:04","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T11:06:04","slug":"afcon-2023-rigobert-songs-unusual-reaction-after-the-draw-against-guinea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.afriquesports.net\/en\/afcon-2023\/afcon-2023-rigobert-songs-unusual-reaction-after-the-draw-against-guinea","title":{"rendered":"AFCON 2023: Rigobert Song\u2019s unusual reaction after the draw against Guinea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The national coach of Cameroon, Rigobert Song, stood out in a press conference after his team’s first match at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Guinea. While the result disappoints many, the former defender prefers to rely on God for the next match, a statement that infuriates Cameroonians.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon played their first match of the AFCON 2023 on Monday. At the Yamoussoukro stadium, the five-time African champions faced Guinea’s Sily National. In the tough group of this 34th edition of the Africa Cup, Rigobert Song and his team were unable to secure a victory. Trailing in the first half, the Cameroonians managed to equalize in the second half. Despite numerical superiority throughout the second half, Karl Etoko Kambi and his teammates lacked precision and accuracy in front of the Guinean goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"AFCON<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Song’s unconventional press conference<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For many, the result is not positive<\/a> considering Cameroon’s stature in African football. Andr\u00e9 Onana, who did not play in the match, expressed his disappointment.<\/a> However, for Rigobert Song, it is out of the question to discard everything, especially considering the surprises already seen in the AFCON 2023. The Cameroonian coach even congratulated his players for their effort in the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s not always easy. We are following the starts of some teams, and we see what is happening. I think there was a desire to give, and at the same time, there was also fear. They did not express at the beginning what we had asked of them, that is, to put pressure and score as quickly as possible. It was the opposite, but then they recovered. I already congratulate them because they showed desire,<\/em>” he first stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“God will accompany us so that we can score”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Addressing the inefficiency of his team in front of the goals, Rigobert Song turned to God for the next match against Senegal’s Lions of Teranga. “Today, the ball was circulating, and we could have scored more goals, but well, that’s part of the game, and we hope that next time God will accompany us so that we can score what we missed today (Monday),”<\/em> he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After this statement, reactions continue to pour in. For many observers of Cameroonian football, especially the fans, Song’s reliance on the divine is seen as an admission of incompetence that harms Cameroon. Without mincing words, many expressed their frustration on social media. “Invoking God is already synonymous with the inability to manage his team. Now we resort to miracles; perhaps the opponents are praying to the Devil?<\/em>” mocked one internet user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A big upset at AFCON as 10-men Guinea battle out a draw against Cameroon in their opening game \ud83e\udd2f\ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddf3

Not the result Andre Onana would\u2019ve wanted to see after making his 24 hour trip \ud83d\ude2c pic.twitter.com\/81PH91fR4b<\/a><\/p>— SPORTbible (@sportbible) January 15, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>