Solomon Tembang Mforgham

Cameroon’s football and former captain of the Indomitable Lions, Rigobert Song, has decided to bow out of international football.

After close to sixteen years with Indomitable Lions, Song’s decision is no surprise as he has been under pressure to retire from the squad even before the World Cup in South Africa and some say the decision is not unconnected to the disgraceful performance of the Indomitable Lions in the tournament.

Known for his defensive skills, Song will be remembered for his exemplary spirit of patriotism and ability to spur his teammates to action in the face of adversity. His dreadlocks looks for over a decade represented the image and spirit of the lion after which the national team is christened.

Considered as a key player for Cameroon, Rigobert Song has appeared in eight CAF Africa Cup of Nations serving a record five times as captain of the Indomitable Lions and also holds the record of most consecutive games played in the tournament with 35 first team games.

He won two CAF Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002. In 2009 the defender was dropped as captain of the Cameroonian national team by Coach, Paul Le Guen, who eventually appointed Samuel Eto'o as the new on-pitch leader. Song also holds the record of the most capped player in the history of the Cameroon national team and has played in four World Cups, in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2010 and two Confederations Cup finals.

Song started his professional career with Tonnerre Yaounde in 1993 but failed to make any appearances for the club. A year later, he moved to Metz and helped the club to win the French League Cup back in 1996.

After appearing at the 1998 World Cup he left Italy, where he signed for Salernitana, to start successive stints with Liverpool, West Ham United and Cologne but after failing to hold a first-team place, he returned to France to play for RC Lens.

He stayed there until 2004 and moved on to Turkey, where he spent four years with Galatasaray, winning two Turkish League titles and the Turkish Cup. Song then signed a contract with Trabzonspor in 2008, where he won another Turkish Cup and stayed until 2010.

Along with Zinedine Zidane, Song is the only player to have been sent off in two different World Cups, once against Brazil in USA 94 and once against Chile in France 98. He also holds the record as youngest player ever to be sent off in a World Cup, aged 17.

---