Rigobert Song Appointed Coach of Central African Republic Amid Leadership Dispute
The Central African Republic's football federation challenges the sports ministry's unilateral decision to name Rigobert Song as head coach of the national team.
- Rigobert Song, former Cameroon captain and coach, has been named head coach of the Central African Republic's national football team by the country's sports ministry.
- The Central African Republic's football federation has rejected the appointment, stating they were not consulted and had plans to nationalize the coaching position.
- Song succeeds Sébastien Ngato, who had been serving as interim coach after Raoul Savoy was dismissed following the team's failure to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
- The team, ranked 135th in FIFA standings, faces significant challenges, including low group standings in qualifiers for both the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
- Song's immediate objective is to improve the team's performance, with upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Mali being critical to their campaign.
Ouest-France 
