AFCON 2019: Cameroon contact Seedorf to coach Indomitable Lions

Host of 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon have engaged former Dutch International midfielder Clarence Seedorf as coach of the Indomitable Lions to be assisted interestingly by former teammate Patrick Kluivert.

The duo’s appointment was announced by Cameroon’s Minister of Sport and Physical Education, Pierre Ismael Bidoung Mkpatt, at a news conference on Saturday and comes after talks with former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson failed hit the rocks

Seedorf takes over from the Belgian Hugo Broos, who led the side to a surprise victory at the 2017 African Nations Cup finals but was axed in November after failing to win a place at the World Cup in Russia.

Cameroon will defend their Nations Cup title on home soil in June next year, a first major finals test for the new management team.

Seedorf, 42, will take on his first national team job having had limited experience in coaching following brief spells with AC Milan, Chinese side Shenzhen and Deportivo La Coruna.

He led those teams in a total of 52 games but is revered for an illustrious playing career, most notably at Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid and AC Milan, winning the Champions League with each club

He was also capped 87 times by the Netherlands between 1994 and 2008.

Former striker Kluivert’s playing career also included Ajax, where he was a Champions League winner with Seedorf, Milan and most notably Barcelona where he spent six seasons.

He was the assistant coach to Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal between 2012 and 2014 and was later briefly in charge of Dutch Caribbean nation Curacao. One of the results that forced the exit of former coach Hugo Broos was Super Eagles 4-0 demolition of indomitable lions at the Nest of Champions in Uyo ahead of the World cup.

Goals from Odion Ighalo, John Obi Mikel, Victor Moses and Kelechi Iheanacho were all the Gernot Rohr tutored side needed to post what was dubbed their biggest win en-route to Russia where they, unfortunately, failed to live up to expectations